Cathy Fang, Yang Zhang, Matthew Dworman and Chris Harrison have created Wireality: a haptic system that enables tangible VR interactions by limiting the dexterity of the wearer.

Most virtual reality systems have hand-tracking controllers with buttons and “rumble pack”-style haptic feedback — a feeble facsimile of authentic interaction with real-world objects. Utilizing a shoulder-mounted system that connects to various points of the wearer’s hands, Wireality employs spring-loaded wires to physically prevent motion, simulating the experience of encountering physical obstacles.

A Teensy 3.2 controls two L298 H-Bridge motor drivers, based on commands received over USB from custom VR software. This activates a solenoid which arrests the wearer’s motion to provide a sensation of physical interaction. More information can be found on Chris’s web site, in the original paper, and in the video below.