bHaptics TactSuit X40 preview – game-changing haptic feedback
I was introduced to the vast world of haptics at CES 2024, and how the technology can be used to improve the gaming experience, particularly when using virtual reality devices.
bHaptics is a company which specialises in haptic feedback technology, and I was able to try two of its products – TactSuit X40 and TactGlove – at CES 2024 in a VR demo being run on the Meta Quest 3.
The TactSuit X40 is exactly as it sounds, in that it's a relatively bulky vest that resembles a bulletproof jacket, that fits snugly to your body and then sends haptic feedback through your torso via 40 different haptic points. It’s completely wireless and is one-size-fits-all thanks to adjustable straps on the sides, and you can get up to 12 hours of playtime on one charge.
The TactGlove, on the other hand, has 12 different haptic points, is also completely wireless and claims to provide 3.5 hours of playtime on one charge. These come in four different sizes so you can get the perfect fit, from small to extra large. One thing that instantly impressed me about the haptic gloves wasn’t just the actual haptic feedback they provided, but how fine-tuned they are for hand tracking, which means you don't have to worry about controllers and as such, it's a more immersive experience.
But it should be noted that the TactGlove does not provide hand tracking on its own, it simply uses whatever camera-based hand tracking system that happens to be in your VR headset.
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Non-virtual reality
When first strapping into the TactSuit X40, I was sceptical about how comfortable I’d be with 1.7kg of weight on my shoulders. However, after it was adjusted to fit properly and I was in-game, I didn't notice the weight, despite my concern that it'd feel weighed down.
Unfortunately, as this was a demo set up at a CES 2024 booth, all of the devices were already connected, so I wasn’t able to test or validate how easy the pairing process was between the Meta Quest 3 and bHaptic devices.
The first part of the VR demo was largely there to get me acclimated to hand tracking, rather than having controllers. After a few tries, I was able to pick things up and press buttons using my actual fingers with pinpoint accuracy, despite a few glitches which sent my hands flying into outer space to begin with.
The TactGloves allowed me to feel the pressure against my fingers and palms as I picked objects up and interacted with them. Even when pushing down harder on certain buttons, I could feel the resistance through the gloves, which was such a cool thing to experience.
My history with haptics has, like many gamers, been mostly through vibrations and rumbles from controllers like the PS5 DualSense. When first seeing bHaptics, I was expecting something similar in that it would just be vibrations being sent through my hands and body. But, I was wrong, because these haptic sensations are much more realistic, and don't even feel like vibrations.
The next part of the demo had me firing lasers at a drone, and then setting up a shield and blocking incoming shots. While I struggled to get the shield up at some points, I was hit by the incoming shots and it genuinely felt like getting zapped in the shoulder, instead of just a vibrations in the general area.
Firing the lasers straight out of my hands was also a thrilling experience, as I felt the recoil not only rumble through my fingers but also up through my body. The last part of the demo consisted of me looking straight at a 3D avatar of myself. I was able to reach out and touch different parts of my body, and it did a great job of mimicking the sensations of being touched which, I admit, was a bit weird. High-fiving myself definitely felt a bit sad, but I was blown away by how much it felt like an actual high-five, rather than just a vibration pulsing through my hand.
bHaptics's TactSuit X40 and TactGlove impressed me with how they delivered haptic feedback. The sheer level of sensation they provided is something I've never experienced before and this, combined with the pinpoint accurate hand tracking, offers a much more immersive VR experience compared to simply wearing a headset.
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