Google shocked the tech world with the April 1 announcement of yet another landmark achievement in the emerging field of virtual reality. Google’s VR team brought immersive experiences to the masses with Cardboard. It built upon that initial success with more advanced headsets such as Daydream and groundbreaking platforms like Tango. Today, Google is changing the game for VR yet again. From this point forward nothing will ever be the same.
Say hello to Haptic Helpers.
Haptic Helpers represents a landmark bio-mechanical solution that vastly improves VR interaction. Combining the limitless creativity of the human mind with a carefully curated arsenal of bleeding-edge immersive tools, Haptic Helpers have become the last word in total virtual presence. In Google’s own words:
We’re taking VR to the next level with Haptic Helpers. Using a modest set of everyday tools, these VR virtuosos can simulate more than 10,000 unique experiences, all from the comfort of your own home. Smell the roses. Listen to the ocean. Feel a fluffy dog!
We’ve recently begun in-home user tests and are now seeking additional trusted testers. Interested? Sign up now.
UploadVR was lucky enough to be sent an early build for the Haptic Helper system. As you can see from the below images, this technology is nothing like what we’ve seen before.
There’s what appears to be some sort of hydro-pressurized aquatic immersion system, a packet of combustible aromatics that somehow turn heat into a portable scent replication system, and a frighteningly powerful handgun-stye device that’s able to increase the temperature of the air itself (make sure to keep that one away from any small children).
These are the official specs for the first generation of the Haptic Helper Developer Kit:
Height: 6’2’’
Width: fluctuates, especially around the holiday season.
Processor: Human Brain
Battery: this model runs only on a combination of water and a variety of consumable goods, most of which can be found in an average person’s refrigerator.
Battery life: 4-6 hours for optimal performance. 3 days or so until it dies completely.
Ports: Redacted
In a world-first exclusive, UploadVR also had the chance to speak with the first Haptic Helper DK1 himself.
In trademark Google fashion, the DK1 was unwilling to comment on some of the more earth shattering potentialities for the Haptic Helpers. However, his mention of recreating urban environments indicate that the first ever city-scale VR experiences may soon be on the way from Google through this new platform.
Google will begin shipping the DK1 to early adopters “soon” and should have a new, more portable model ready in about nine months.
