DAILY MANIFESTO

Sony Patents Controller That Gets Erect, Limp, Hot, And Cold

Posted on Thursday, January 24 @ 11:42:37 Eastern by Anthony Severino

Rumors of next-gen console hardware have gotten out of control lately. It seems that almost every day I wake up, some media outlet somewhere has spoken to an anonymous source that has revealed specs and features of next-gen consoles that completely contradict previous reports.

They're so outlandish in what they suggest, it's difficult to take any of them seriously—which is why today, I'm reporting on something a little more solid... that also gets soft.

Sony is reportedly ditching the old DualShock design for the PS4, and there has been talk about adding a capacitive touch pad much like the PlayStation Vita's backside. But new controller patents that have been uncovered today by PlayStation LifeStyle reveal futuristic controller feedback that'll get you all hot and bothered.

Well, it'll get you hot to the point where it may bother (burn) you.

The patents refer to real-time sensations such as vibration to provide a higher level of interactive experience, then really ups the ante by adding a thermal source for heating and cooling sensations. The cooling could be as low as 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit to as hot as 110-125 degrees Fahrenheit. Too hot to handle; too cold to hold?

Where the patents get really strange is that they cover an interweaving, folding metal design that allows users to experience sensations of hardness or softness. An in-controller reservoir filled with inflating material expands to feel hard or deflates to give the sensation of being soft. Texture sensation settings could add another layer of smoothness or roughness. I prefer it rough.

How the shit does this work with video games? The patent use a character walking on a hard, hot, concrete surface as one example, and walking on soft sand on a cool night for another. Something tells me their example involved Nathan Drake. Or maybe I'm just picturing it that way because he's so dreamy.

It all seems very weird, I know. But could Sony be on to something? Would you want to feel the sensation of hot or cold, hard or soft in your hands in addition to vibration? Or should Sony leave the console business and instead make a line of enhanced condoms that get hot or cold, hard or soft, rough or smooth, and even vibrate? I'll take some of those, please.

[Source]

Tags: Sony, ps3, ps4, next-gen

Comments

friggest
Joined: Mar 2008

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Both pictures for this article were great. Now I will go back and actually read.

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friggest
Joined: Mar 2008

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
I like the idea. Imagine being flash banged and the controller goes soft. Or if you are in a desert environment and the controller gets hot.
Although the controller sounds hella expensive and while a great idea, probably years ahead of its time.

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DaVillain
Joined: Apr 2011

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
Sexy time!!

0 1

Jobin_Wendy
Joined: Mar 2012

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
Movie theaters tried to do something like this before. It was called Smell-o-Vision. It bombed. Horribly.

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drathbone
Joined: May 2011

Posted: Jan 25th, 2013 at 1:05 am
That was some 50 years ago. I'm sure technology has come far enough to simplify/improve the faults of the previous system. This simply adds another level of immersion which, quite frankly, sounds pretty neat.

Sounds better than another motion controller.

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Jobin_Wendy
Joined: Mar 2012

Posted: Jan 25th, 2013 at 10:12 am
They did try to revive it with a Spy Kids movie. That also failed.

But yes, anything sounds better than another motion controller.

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Chunibrow
Joined: Mar 2010

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Seriously why can't controllers just be controllers? Why all this stupid "innovation" when real, practical changes are being ignored. How about covering the controller in a material that absorbs sweat and grips better? Please, pay me what the guy who came up with the temperature changing controller gets paid so I can help prevent the next generation of consoles from being a punch line.

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Jobin_Wendy
Joined: Mar 2012

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
An Orbis, a 720, and a Wii U walk into a bar...

1 2

tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 9:24 pm
I nominate Chunibrow to TPS.

2 2

friggest
Joined: Mar 2008

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
My un-nomination cancels that out.

2 2

tinymhg
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Jan 25th, 2013 at 9:08 am
I re-nominate Chunibrow to TPS.

1 1

friggest
Joined: Mar 2008

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Material that absorbs sweat? Sounds smelly. How hard do you grip your pencils? Extra grip? Is this really a problem?
While you probably have a better point in challenging ergonomics, there seems to be a need for people to connect to games.
Since holodecks are out, and story telling is hit/miss, another outlet for people to connect visual to physical is not at all a bad idea. Implementation is key though.

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Chunibrow
Joined: Mar 2010

Posted: Jan 25th, 2013 at 12:32 am
I will respond to your post one question at a time.

Yes a material that either absorbs sweat or remains more grippy when sweaty.

No smellier than any other controller that people sweat on now.

Pencils... what the **** are you talking about?

Yes a surface that has more grip in your hands, it's not complicated.

Yes when I am playing an intense game like an online FPS or playing for long periods my hands sweat, as do many other people's hands.

Any more poorly thought out, inane questions you need answered?

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friggest
Joined: Mar 2008

Posted: Jan 25th, 2013 at 7:59 am
The questions were made inane to match your originally inane suggestions.
Have you thought about antiperspirant for your hands? I heard of a good one called, "gloves".

1 0

stimpy
Joined: Jun 2011

Posted: Jan 25th, 2013 at 11:49 am
Your sweat absorbing controller would be a disgusting stinky germ lab.

1 1

Chunibrow
Joined: Mar 2010

Posted: Jan 25th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
I'm not saying absorbent like a sponge, just a material that remains grippy while sweaty.

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LawnGnome
Joined: Apr 2007

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 12:51 pm
This is what Sony was working on instead of cross-game chat. This controller and the DNA DRM thing lead me to believe that Sony just really wants to make a console that you can have sex with. It is a Japanese company after all.

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Anthony_Severino
Joined: Oct 2010

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
In b4 tentacle rape.

Not spam (but prob should be).

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R0ADK1LL
Joined: Jul 2009

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Just build this tech into a full-body suit that goes with the HMZ-1 headset. Parts of the suit could go hard when you get hit in different areas. Bonus side effects of being bruised, burned alive & suffering hypothermia. Are you hardcore enough?

Comes with special tentacle peripheral for the Japanese market only.

0 1

elmoreoocyte
Joined: Apr 2012

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
A console controller that has more innovations than the console. Terrific idea!

0 1

Imnickson
Joined: Jul 2006

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 10:17 pm
You should see the Wii U.

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moretokes
Joined: Apr 2011

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
How about a controller I can stick my dick inside of it. I'm already masturbatimg to porn on ps3, might as well just **** my console;-)

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Chunibrow
Joined: Mar 2010

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 9:03 pm
*In Captain Jack Sparrow's voice*

"Sounds like you need to get yourself a girl mate."

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moretokes
Joined: Apr 2011

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
It didn't sensor dick! Hmm I found a flaw in the system

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Jobin_Wendy
Joined: Mar 2012

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Just capitalize the f in Fuck. Problem solved!

0 1

moretokes
Joined: Apr 2011

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
I wanted it to block me. It makes seem that what I'm saying is outlandish or obsurd, but you had to take that away from me.

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Jobin_Wendy
Joined: Mar 2012

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Sorry to Shit on your parade.

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hardygrim
Joined: Mar 2011

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 6:01 pm
I say bravo to Sony. They are obviously concerned about the over population of the earth and so are providing an alternative solution. Who wouldn't rather have sex with a console. I mean they force us away from interaction with the opposite sex anyways, may as well get laid while we're at it.

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damo_rox619
Joined: Jan 2007

Posted: Jan 24th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Well, nothing to do here. *jetpack away

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BigTruckSeries
Joined: May 2006

Posted: Jan 25th, 2013 at 5:13 pm
I can't help the feeling this is gonna somehow end up inside various human orifices.

0 0