Sharp Reveals Prototype VR Controller, Merging Haptic Gloves with Standard Buttons

Okay, so Sharp’s coming out with this new VR thing, right? It’s like a controller that’s supposed to let you feel stuff. Yeah, actually feel it. Kind of wild, huh? They’re testing it over in Japan. So, like, you got this familiar game controller setup, but here’s the twist—they’ve added all these tiny, tactile doohickeys on the fingertips. Supposedly, they make you feel textures. Smooth, rough, you name it. Feels a bit sci-fi, doesn’t it?

They admit, kinda candidly on their site, that it’s not quite perfect—like, not real-life perfect—but by tweaking some techy stuff, they’ve managed to create different sensations. They’re not even waiting to get it all flawless before sharing. Instead, they want real people—maybe you, if you’re in Japan—to try it and help them make it better. Sort of refreshing, really.

Oh, and there’s this picture they tossed in. Looks like a typical gadget photo, but honestly, I barely glanced before thinking—how’s this gonna look in real life? Anyway, moving on—the controllers come in pairs, right and left, but they don’t track fingers as well as those glove things you might’ve seen. No force feedback either, and don’t expect it to get hot or cold just yet.

Rods and buttons, those are there, but tracking? Still a bit murky. They might use something already popular for that, but no solid answers yet. They’re in demo mode, getting feedback before going all in. Fingers crossed for those of us waiting to see an actual product.

Oh, and the cost? For now, around ¥100,000 or, like, $680-ish. But here’s the kicker—they might just pull the plug on the whole thing if it doesn’t pan out. So, don’t count your chickens before they hatch, as they say.

Sharp’s not new to this, though. They’ve worked on high-end VR displays—remember when they were big with Meta Quest 2? And they even teamed up with NTT Docomo for AR glasses last year. So maybe, just maybe, they’ll pull this off. Or not. Guess we’ll see.