Sharp Reveals Prototype VR Controller Merging Haptic Gloves with Traditional Buttons

So, here’s the thing. Sharp, you know, the guys making TVs and all that stuff, are diving headfirst into the VR world with a new gadget. It’s like they went, “Hey, why not try making VR feel like real life?” And voilà, they’ve got this haptic controller thingy. Just a prototype for now, but pretty neat if you ask me.

Picture this: it’s packed with these tiny segments on your fingertips. They do this funky vibrating dance to trick your brain into thinking you’re touching something either smooth, rough, or who even knows what else. Not perfect yet, but hey, they’re working on it! They aren’t keeping it under wraps until it’s flawless. Nope, they want us regular folks to try it out and help polish it up. Kind of refreshing, right?

Anyway — oh, right, the nitty-gritty. It’s not like those glove-type gadgets that track every twitch of your finger. No finger magic here. Also, forget about feeling weight or heat. Just isn’t happening. But, it’s still got your good old sticks and buttons for gaming. How they track it? Beats me. Could be some fancy mounts or whatever.

They’re demoing this thing in Japan, so it’s a bit of a mystery if it’ll hit stores or just vanish into thin air. All I’ve seen are digital sketches, honestly. They did let a few folks sign up to try it for about ¥100,000 (ouch, that’s roughly $680!). But Sharp did toss in a warning—development might just stop cold. Nice.

Now, don’t underestimate Sharp. Apparently, they’ve been big in the VR display game, supplying Meta Quest 2. And OH, in 2024 teamed with NTT Docomo to toss some AR glasses into the mix, called MiRZA. Who saw that coming, right?

That’s it. Sharp’s in this VR game, and I’m curious where they’re heading. Maybe it’s genius. Maybe it’s a misstep. Who knows, but I’m keeping an eye out.