Touching technology can be transformative, especially in gaming. There is a groundbreaking new device called Shiftly that utilizes origami techniques to offer unique tactile feedback in VR environments.

This innovative gadget employs various folds to recreate different surfaces, making the VR interaction more immersive than ever before. According to a study published by the IEEE Spectrum, participants were blindfolded while using Shiftly and successfully matched the physical sensations of the device to distinct images, confirming its effectiveness.

Users of Shiftly reported that it accurately simulated many simple surface shapes, enhancing their virtual experience. The device can morph into new forms in as little as 0.25 seconds, with more complex transitions taking about four seconds.

As stated by Tobias Batik, an associate researcher who worked on this technology as part of his master’s thesis at TU Wien, “This could indicate that Shiftly can provide plausible haptic feedback for a wide range of surface geometries.” While the application of this technology in gaming is still limited, the possibilities it presents are exciting. Imagine a game like No Man’s Sky featuring diverse textures for different rock types, or unique sensations for weapons in action games like Gorn.

Currently, while the tech is still in its infancy, there is hope that such advanced haptic systems will soon become mainstream in gaming.