Vibration in game controllers has become the norm for the major consoles. The vibration units contained in the PS3 DualShock controller or the Xbox 360 controller can give a range of feedback from low rumbles to short, sharp violent movement. One thing they can’t do is simulate an object passing through your body, something the University of Electro-Communications in Japan hopes to change.

The Kajimoto research group at the university is experimenting with a new form of hand mounted vibration unit. The aim is to develop a system where by it is possible to simulate the sensation of an object passing through your hand or other part of your body.

They are referring to the device as a “phantom sensation device” and it works on the principle that if you stimulate two areas of skin at the same time, it can give the sensation of something passing between them. In the initial experiments, when you do this on the palm and back of a person’s hand, it can easily be made to feel like something passes through it.

The sensation device is still in development, but currently relies on a Wii Remote to track the movement of your hand in 3D space. A vibration unit is then placed on the front and back of the hand that can vary the amount and timing of the vibration being applied on either side. Introducing software to that equation allows the user to experience an object on screen passing through their own hand.

The test setup currently uses a ball that drops from the top of the screen to the bottom repeatedly. If the user wearing the phantom sensation device positions their hand correctly, they can both see and feel the ball passing through their hand.

The aim of these experiments is to create a device that can be used to give better feedback in games. One example is being stabbed in a game and feeding that back physically to the player. There’s also no suggestion that this will be limited to the hand, meaning one day, being shot in a game may actually allow you to feel the sensation of the bullets passing through your body if you are wearing the right equipment.

Read more at Akihabaranews