Sharp Introduces Prototype VR Controller Merging Haptic Gloves with Traditional Buttons

So, Sharp’s been cooking up something new in Japan. Yeah, they’ve got this prototype—some kind of VR haptic controller, trying to mimic touch in VR. Kinda wild, right? I mean, who would’ve thought? Anyway, they slapped it with a typical button layout so it feels kinda familiar.

Here’s the thing: Sharp’s thrown in these “multi-segmented tactile elements.” Sounds fancy, huh? These are on the fingertips, and when the thing buzzes, it’s supposed to feel like different textures—you know, like smooth or bumpy. At least that’s the pitch.

Sharp admits it’s not perfect yet, not exactly like touching the real deal. But they’re flipping that by tweaking stuff so you get different feels. They’re not just keeping it locked away in some secret lab, either. Instead, they’re tossing it out to users to help nail down what really works. Interesting move.

Check out the pic—yup, that’s it. Does it look cool? Maybe. Does it look like any other controller? Also maybe.

So here’s where it gets a bit iffy: they’re saying it won’t track your fingers like those sci-fi gloves you see in movies. Plus, no fancy force feedback or heating/cooling. It’s more like a regular gaming controller with knobs and buttons. Tracking? Still a mystery, though they might add some mounts for popular systems.

Weirdly, the thing’s still in the testing phase. Sharp’s hinted it might not even hit the shelves, just sketches and dreams for now. But they do want some folks in Japan to try it out soon.

Pricing? They closed the pre-orders, and it’s ¥100,000 a pop. Yeah, around $680, if you’re wondering, and they’ve put out a disclaimer: this whole thing could get canned, just like that.

Here’s a curveball—Sharp’s got more VR cred than you’d think. They used to supply screens for Meta Quest 2, and last year, they teamed up with NTT Docomo for some AR glasses called MiRZA. Who knew, right?