Nathan DeVrio and Chris Harrison from the Future Interfaces Group at Carnegie Mellon University have created one of the most elegant and cost-effective solutions to one of the common complaints with VR in the form of their Reel Feel haptic feedback device.

Virtual reality can be incredibly immersive, especially when paired with controllers and other accessories that let you manipulate your environment. But one complaint that users often report is the lack of tactility offered by current systems.

When you reach out toward an object or surface, the reality is shattered when you’re able to freely pass your hand through it like a ghost. Various commercial and research projects have attempted to solve this issue, but instead of burdening hands and fingers with sensors and feedback hardware, this system shifts the bulk of its weight to the shoulder, from which reels of string (hence the name) emit for each finger, attached via a silicone cap. This can then be used to produce object-based haptic feedback, for both rigid and compliant objects.

The Teensy 4.1-based prototype cost ~$240 in parts, 83% of which is from the brushless DC motors used to pull the strings. Scaled for mass-market production, the authors believe it might be possible to bring the cost below $100. See it in action in the video below, and check out the project web page for more info.