Virtual Reality

A first-of-its-kind study has found adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities may experience improvements to symptoms of anxiety and depression after using specially designed virtual reality sensory rooms.

Although there already are experimental "telehaptic" systems that allow people to send and receive tactile sensations, they tend to be bulky and awkward. A new one is much slimmer and thus more practical, thanks to the use of piezoelectric materials.

After almost two years of drip-feeding us details, Sony has finally revealed the last tidbits of info we needed about the PlayStation VR2 – the price and the release date. The cherry on top is a slew of new games to try to entice us to it.

Redmond-based HaptX is preparing for business in the metaverse age with the launch of a pair of "ground-breaking" haptic gloves that allow enterprise users to get to grips with objects in the virtual workplace.

For decades, inventors have pursued the concept of adding "smell-o-vision" to movies or TV shows. Swedish scientists have now created such a system for use in VR gaming, and it could actually help people regain their lost sense of smell.

In Meta's ongoing quest to make the nebulous "metaverse" a virtual reality, it has already released two of the most amazing all-in-one, untethered VR headsets we've ever seen. Now, meet the Meta Quest Pro, a next-level headset with no expense spared.

In most body-tracking VR systems, users have to wear sensors on various parts of their body, and/or they must remain within the confines of a base station. The Surplex system, however, is claimed to track body movements via a single pair of shoes.

There are many potential uses for augmented reality (AR) glasses, such as real-time captioning for the deaf, training military pilots, and providing runners with virtual partners. Now, they may also help Japanese emergency medical technicians (EMTs) save lives.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is laser-focused on creating VR headsets that deliver visual experiences that are indistinguishable from reality, and has shown off some extraordinary prototypes of next-gen hardware to highlight the massive challenges ahead.

Along with providing users with sights and sounds, some VR systems also deliver tactile sensation to the hands. A new ultrasound-based setup, however, lets users feel the virtual world on and in their mouths – without making physical contact.

Although few people would describe roller coasters as boring, they can get a bit "samey" if you always ride the same one. That's where ROCO comes in, as it lets users create their own unique virtual roller coaster ride, every time they use it.

Haptic feedback can give virtual experiences an extra dimension, but it’s hard to achieve. Tech startup Emerge has now unveiled the Emerge Wave-1, a device that pairs with a VR headset and emits ultrasonic waves that let users feel virtual objects.

Continuing its drip feeding of details about the PlayStation VR2, Sony has finally revealed what the next-gen headset will actually look like. Turns out it looks a lot like the original, finished in the contoured white-and-black design of the PS5.

Sony has detailed the specs for the PlayStation VR 2, and it's surprisingly powerful, with a 4K OLED display, high refresh rates, eye tracking and a more robust movement tracking system. The first game for the platform has been unveiled too.

Last month, social media giant Facebook rebranded as Meta and revealed its vision for the future of online interaction. Much of the news so far has focused on what users will see, but the company is also working on bringing touch to the Metaverse.