News Virtual Reality headset simulates all five senses

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2009/03/05/virtual-cocoon-simulates-five-senses/1

Researches demonstrate a mock-up of a "Virtual Cocoon" that they claim could potentially allow you to see, hear, smell and touch.

 

They're going to put me in a vizorless helmet and stick things in my mouth. Somehow I can only see the porn industry being interested in this.

 

The images in the daily mail's article make it look a lot less like someone sticking their head in a salad spinner.

Not sure I'd want to wear a helmet that fired chemicals up my nose. Virtual tourism is one thing,* but it'd be downright foolhardy for gaming use. I'd give it 30 seconds before somebody mods a dog poo into your online game.

* Although for the £1500 predicted asking price, it might be cheaper just to do it the analogue way.

 

We've all seen this in the movies and games... this is the beginning of the Matrix (Matrix), the end of male and female breeding (that Stalone movie), they will use it for military and assassin training (Assassin's Creed). We're all doomed (Doom).

 

Virtual pr0n 4tw!!!

 

"They called him... the Demolition Man!"

 

Why?! Why would you want pr0n juice blasted up your nose?


edit: I really hope you have to buy the scents specifically for the virtual environment. Dead giveaway when picking up refills from Tescos.

 

Those nose thingys look rather uncomfortable. I can see myself getting a nose itch every time I put this on. It'll probably do well for specific applications such as combat training and the already mentioned virtual tourism (which I hope is only used by travel agencies as a preview of where they intend to send you to or else tourism would become the lamest thing in the world) but I don't think I'd need to know how a splicer smells in Bioshock, or even worst! That poo level on Conker's...

 

it's almost like the pods used in that Stargate SG1 (the one with Murdoc from the Ateam) where no-one realizes they're in a virtual world...

 

Looks like they're trying to solve the "High res microdisplays and compact optics are EXPENSIVE" problem by projecting onto a surface. Bulky, but for the near future it'll be both cheaper and higher quality than more compact alternatives. Would need some interesting polarisation (4 projectors minimum) or high-speed-shutter systems (120Hz minimum) for stereoscopic 3D though.

 

How dare you insult The Lawnmower Man.

I have hopes that one day my simian like intelligence will be developed to that of the Gods, via virtual reality and spinny thingys.

 

Hmm, all the phones are ringing. Weird.

 

sTimulate.... not simulate... you seem to mix it up with every mention...

 

Hmm... here come skeptical me again.
I would usually happily lend one of my friends my PC for an afternoon if I wasn't using it but there is no way I want them sticking my nostril pipes up their nose, I'll come back and find someone else's bogeys on my headset thing. Eww.