Although some companies are trying to make AR and VR more immersive through tactile feedback, a startup company decided to focus on the heat experience. TEGway is a branch of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. It invented a light and flexible thermoelectric device called TED. The product can be quickly regulated between 4-40 degrees Celsius, producing different hot and cold areas on the same surface to simulate the pain on the skin. Now the product has finally launched the consumer brand ThermoReal. TEGway hopes that hardware manufacturers can integrate the solution, such as remote control sticks, gloves, tactile coats, chairs, etc., to bring the immersive experience to a new level.
The TED achieves cold and heat changes by utilizing the current passing through the gas-thermoelectric semiconductor array. This can generate heat flow between the top and bottom ends for heating and cooling. But in fact its reverse process is easier to understand: the temperature difference on the semiconductor can generate current. In this case the TED is like a generator and can be used to collect waste heat.
In order to optimize non-surface heat capture, TEGway found a way to develop flexible TED. Compared with ceramic materials, this not only can better absorb energy, the company also found a new application - it uses thermal feedback to increase the realism of the game, so the commercial product is called ThermoReal. Inside it are two hot and cold lines that are parallel to each other. When electricity is turned on, there is a meeting between cold and heat, which causes pain. ThermoReal is also known as a self-abusing device.
TEGway showed related applications at the HTC Vive X Project DEMO. This DEMO can demonstrate the experience in hot and cold environments. When simulating a cold environment, players will dive into the icy water. The deeper the depth, the colder the water. At this time players will feel cold in their hands. Instead, there is a hot simulation part of the game. In order to show its rapid thermal response, the rod's temperature is also constantly fluctuating.
Overall, ThermoReal's reality is excellent. Now TEGway is convincing other hardware manufacturers to integrate this functionality into the hardware. On the software side, companies will provide software authorisations to content creators.
Guangdong Kaihua Electric Appliance Co., Ltd. , https://www.kaihuacable.com