Last month we talked about FeelReal, a mask that allows us to feel cold, heat, humidity and even smells in virtual reality experiences. Today they start a crowdfunding campaign to go on the market.
Thanks to a system of micro-fans, micro-heaters, water ionization, vibration and odor cartridges, FeelReal is able to emulate different temperatures, sensations such as humidity and even different odors depending on the experience. After showing a fully functional prototype at the GDC 2015, now its creators intend to manufacture a commercial product, and for this they are also developing an SDK that allows integrating its features into any type of software: interactive applications, games, multimedia players… everything related to virtual reality will be even more immersive.
The FeelReal mask has no wires and works thanks to a rechargeable battery of about 4 hours of duration. The connection to the PC or smartphone is made via Bluetooth 2.0, and its range is about 10 meters, more than enough to move around a Valve-type room if we wish. But in FeelReal they had a secret project reserved, which they have revealed at the same time: the Nirvana VR helmet, which they intend to finance in the same project and which comes prepared to be coupled with the FeelReal mask, which would give us this spectacular appearance of an imperial soldier from Star Wars.
The Nirvana will allow us to insert our smartphone as we see in the image to enjoy a complete virtual reality experience. But if this seems little to you, they have added a stretch goal to the campaign to create VIRT, a top-of-the-range model with an integrated microprojector that will allow us to project the image of the phone.
Anyway, it is undoubtedly a very ambitious campaign, although its economic objective is to reach $ 50,000 to build the Nirvana mask and visor, while VIRT will be manufactured if $ 100,000 is reached. We can get the developer version of the mask, available in July, if we contribute $250, or the commercial version for $300, available in September. Both include the SDK and the FeelReal Player, a multimedia player compatible with sensory effects. The commercial version also includes a charging station and a game with all the effects. If we also want the Nirvana helmet, the price goes up to $500, and the top-of-the-range option, for $750, includes a VIRT visor. The campaign ends on May 28.
