Sharp is working on an innovative hybrid VR glove and controller that blends tactile feedback with traditional buttons and a thumbstick. While the company hasn’t confirmed whether this device will hit the market, its concept has already caught the attention of VR enthusiasts.
This isn’t a force feedback glove—meaning it won’t resist your finger movements. Instead, it features “multi-segmented tactile elements” on each fingertip, including the thumb, designed to deliver vibration patterns that mimic the texture of virtual objects.
Multi-Segmented Tactile Elements
The transducer electrodes on each fingertip are divided into segments, enabling:
- A variety of vibration patterns that simulate different textures.
- Touch sensing directly on the surface of the fingers.
A Step Beyond Current Haptics
The concept of haptic gloves isn’t new—companies like bHaptics have offered haptic VR gloves for years at around $250. However, Sharp’s prototype seems to provide much higher tactile resolution, promising a more realistic and detailed recreation of textures in virtual environments.
What sets Sharp’s device apart is its hybrid design. Rather than just being a glove, it integrates the surface of a standard VR controller, complete with buttons and a thumbstick. These are positioned on the side of the index finger for the thumb to easily access, effectively combining the best of both worlds: immersive haptics and traditional input controls.
Price & Availability
On its project page, Sharp mentions a “provisional price” of ¥100,000 (around $700). However, it also notes that commercialization hasn’t been finalized.
Currently, the prototype does not feature built-in positional or finger tracking. This means users would have to rely on computer vision-based hand tracking systems to detect it as a hand. Sharp is exploring the idea of making the glove attachable to popular VR controllers, which would eliminate the need for a separate position tracker.
Why It Matters
This hybrid design could be a game-changer, especially for VRChat users and VR enthusiasts who have long wanted a controller that merges precise tactile feedback with traditional input options. If Sharp moves forward with production, this glove-controller hybrid could redefine how we experience touch in virtual worlds.
