PlayStation VR patent reveals something unexpected as the latest leaks from Sony showcase us some very intriguing and rather surprising details about what their own virtual reality device will be like. The PlayStation VR patent reveals something unexpected: while everyone expected it to be just another headset just like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, it would seem that the PlayStation VR involves more than just that. The patent images show a user making use of haptic feedback gloves instead of the expected PlayStation controller.
The patent in question has been filed on February 25th to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office by Sony and reveals more than just haptic feedback gloves. One of the other elements of interest is the use of what the patent dubbed ‘Cloud Gaming’. This seems to be several steps ahead of what users expected it to be when Sony first announced their very own departure down the virtual reality road.
The haptic feedback gloves are not a fair example of something new in the technological world. The same idea has been used in the Hands Omni which was supposed to be implemented into Virtuix’ VR treadmill Omni before the project went silent. It’s unknown whether the PlayStation VR system will be using the same ideas behind their construction as the Hands Omni. But the haptic feedback implementation involves inflatable mini-bags that provide various types of pressure to the hand when you touch things in the virtual world. So basically touching a surface in VR would give you the same sensation it would as if you did it in real life.
Many specialists consider the haptic feedback gloves the right direction for things to go in and only a natural next step in what virtual reality is concerned. And it would appear that Sony won’t back down from making it part of their own PlayStation VR.
Last but not least, there’s still the issue of the ‘Cloud gaming’ mentioned in the patent. According to it, the company suggests that the VR headset could connect directly to a router instead of a computer or console in order to receive already processed content and data. If that becomes reality, the PlayStation VR headset could become the first standalone virtual reality device that ends up getting released. The fact that VR headsets announced and due to be released in the near future require a computer – and a rather generous on the specifications side at that – that not many can afford, this could truly open some new roads and surpass some of the biggest, current issues that VR is facing.
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Deborah Campbell
