A research group at the University of Electro-Communications is doing R&D on a device that adds a vibrational stimulus to headphones, as a tactile enhancement for audio.

“When you hear sound through these headphones, they deliver synchronized vibrations to the earlobes. This system makes audio even more fun.”

With conventional sensory audio equipment such as vibrating gaming chairs, the vibration is felt by the whole body, which naturally makes environmental noise feel very realistic. But the problem is, it unnaturally exaggerates voices. This device, because it delivers vibration to the ear, can enhance voices more naturally.

“When we tested this device, people said it felt just as if someone was whispering in their ear, and in games, they said it really felt like the heroine was whispering to them. They were also startled sometimes when their earlobes shook, so we think this could be used in conjunction with horror games as well.”

As well as making voices more realistic, the research group would like to focus on a wider variety of content and expand the range of opportunities to use this technology.

Sept. 13, 2010

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