Taclim
Fancy of taking a stroll in the woods and feel the crunch of dry leaves on the ground? Or kicking an enemy in the stomach and feel the blow on your feet? Japanese gadget maker Cerevo took a step into the future with the introduction of Taclim, the world’s first ever VR glove and shoe with haptic feedback at the CES 2017.
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Taclim Features and Technology
Taclim works by allowing users to slip on a pair of gloves and boots that are packed with various sensors that relay the users’ movement to the VR console and tactile devices that provide haptic experience based on the digital environment that they are in.
The Taclim Glove
The Taclim glove is perhaps more accurately described as a motion controller, as it allows the user to grab on a handheld post, clicking a trigger with the index finger and controlling a joystick with the thumb. It boasts a 9 axis sensor and a single tactile motor for haptics feedback.
The Taclim Boots
With dual strap and a roller skate-like design, the Taclim boots feature 3 tactile devices on each boot alongside acceleration, gyroscope and geomagnetism sensors to provide users with immersive haptic experience when foot movement is concerned. The Taclim boots are the hallmark of this cutting edge invention. The sensors and tactile devices work hand in hand to deliver immersive virtual experience by developing realistic haptics feedback when a users is in stepping through various surfaces, such as grass, snow or water in the digital world.
Taclim Tactile Devices & Connectivities
The core of Taclim’s VR technology lies in its tactile devices and its connectivity. Tactlim’s tactile devices that deliver a range of haptics vibration is built in collaboration with Nidec Seimitsu Corporation, a Japanese leading company in haptics component.
Cerevo is developing two version of Taclim, one that works on sub-GHz wireless connection and another using BLE technology. While BLE is targeted for personal usage, the sub-GHz connection is meant for applications in a crowded wireless traffic environment.
Taclim Experience At CES 2017
In CES 2017, visitors have the opportunity to experience first hand Taclim, albeit still in the prototype stage. Users reportedly have mixed experience with the tactile feedback on the Taclim boots. In a demo where the user walks over various surfaces like metal, wood, and snow, some of the surfaces are hard to differentiate on the Taclim prototype, while some provide a clear distinctive feature in the force feedback, such as the powder crunch on a wooden surface.
Taclim SDK for Developers
Developers keen to work on Taclim can expect a Unity plugin SDK from the company. Sample data of basic vibration patterns will be made available to developers.
Technical Specifications
| Gloves Size | W50 x H147 x D50mm |
| Shoes Size | W290 x H140 x D100mm |
| Sensors | 9-axis sensor (acceleration, gyroscope, geomagnetism) / Tactile motor |
| Wireless Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.1 Low Energy, Sub-GHz |
| Charging time | 3 hours |
About Cerevo
Cerevo, founded in 2008 in Japan, is a company with the vision to expand and innovate the IoT industry by developing IoT devices that adhere to its Global Niche concept.
Cost and Availability
While there are no official pricing and date of Taclim provided by Cerevo, it is expected to be released somewhere in the second half of 2017 and is believed to cost around $1000. Taclim is expected to target businesses rather than gamers at its launch as a means to showcase their products, according to Cerevo CEO Takuma Iwasa.
History
Jan, 2017 - Prototype of Taclim revealed at CES2017.
References
- https://taclim.cerevo.com/en/
- https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/03/vr-boots-cerevo-taclim-ces-2017/
- http://newatlas.com/cerevo-taclim-boots-vr-walking/47254/
- https://www.theverge.com/ces/2017/1/3/14162032/taclim-vr-shoes-hands-on-ces-2017
- https://www.androidheadlines.com/2017/01/cerevo-taclim-brings-tactile-feedback-vr.html
