A new era of virtual reality technology has begun to emerge where users can actually feel what they’re seeing.
Social virtual connection company Emerge is leading the charge with its new bare-hands tactile experience device, the Wave-1.
The Wave-1 is part of the three-part Emerge home system, designed to enhance users’ VR experiences without controllers.
VR gloves exist, but the company says they still don’t allow people to use their bare hands to connect with others physically.
Citing National Research Group data, Emerge says consumers are excited about the Metaverse but long for improved interactivity.
According to the data, 78 percent of consumers say they “miss” being able to touch and interact with people virtually.
The Wave-1 has the potential to fill in the interactivity gap and make VR experiences more immersive and personal.
“Emerge represents what we hope could be a next paradigm shift in human interaction,” says Emerge Co-Founder Sly Lee. “Emerge Home’s goal is to take people beyond the screen and allow them to connect emotionally in a natural way, no matter the distance between them.”
The Wave-1 works in concert with a user’s VR headset and the Emerge Home mobile app.
With a footprint similar to a 13” laptop, the Wave-1 does not take up much space on a table or desk.
Using Emerge’s patented technology, the Wave-1 uses sculpted ultrasonic waves to allow users to interact via touch in VR worlds.
The Wave-1 creates a mid-air interaction field up to three feet high and 120 degrees around itself.
The company says it’s creating a family of products enabling VR users to feel tactile experiences without gloves, controllers, or wearables.
“Emerge Home is the first step in a broader journey to create a new language of touch in the virtual world,” says Emerge Co-Founder Isaac Castro. “We are starting with virtual reality today, and exploring other interfaces in the near future.”
The company says the Wave-1 will be publicly available this month on Kickstarter for $499 for a limited time.
For early access and additional information, visit Emerge’s website.
Image: Emerge