ViviTouch by Mophie Pulse introduced haptic feedback gaming on iPhone
Your iPhone and iPod touch may soon become the ultimate portable gaming machine with the Mophie Pulse case featuring ViviTouch haptics technology. The Pulse is essentially an iPhone casing, but will also provide haptic feedback, which will is said to let users “feel the difference between hundreds of sensations, not just the one-buzz-fits-all vibration from before.” It also features a pair of stereo speakers built into the casing, which will apparently will boost and enhance the sound from your game or application.
The ViviTouch haptics technology is more advanced then typical motor-driven haptics implementations. Instead of feeling your device either vibrating or not, ViviTouch delivers a broad spectrum of vibrations that can even seem to travel across the screen. For instance, a pinball bouncing off a wall will feel a certain effect very different from guns shooting in a game. Also, different guns selected in a game could produce different effects as well.
It converts electric energy directly into movement and even uses 70 percent less battery power. Developers do not need to use the ViviTouch API to generate vibrations, instead the audio energy from a game is converted to recreate different effects. However, the API is available if Developers want to optimize their games for ViviTouch.
This is nothing like having physical gaming controls, but if you’re looking for a little vibe to go with your Angry Birds, I guess this is it. The Mophie branded device, which doesn’t appear to have any battery-boosting functionality like its other Mophie cousins, also rocks a couple of stereo speakers. No word on price, but the Pulse is “coming soon” to an iRetailer near you.
The company makes other mophie products, primarily battery life extending cases for iOS devices.
“A rolling pinball will feel different than a revving motor, a big explosion or even a sharp blade slicing through fruit,” the company promises for the tech that’s still “coming soon.” If it works, that could address some concerns about touchscreen-based gaming, which offers none of the tactile feedback of traditional controllers.
More details on the official ViviTouch web site, which is just a touch hyperbolic, but potentially interesting nonetheless.
Check ViviTouch Introductory Launch Trailer,
