Feel Virtual Reality with SenseGlove Nova
The Dutch company SenseGlove makes it possible to physically feel what you touch in the virtual world using a haptic glove. In this blog, we explain how this works and why it's beneficial to use a haptic glove.
Graduation Project
SenseGlove was founded in 2017 from the idea of a graduation project. The founders of SenseGlove, Gijs den Butter and Johannes Luijten, had the idea of using a haptic glove to assist with stroke rehabilitation. SenseGlove has since grown into a full-fledged company with a dedicated development team, and they have discovered the best applications for SenseGlove.
The new SenseGlove Nova
The latest product they've developed, the SenseGlove Nova, is a haptic glove that looks very futuristic. When you put the glove on, you immediately feel like Iron Man. The gloves have a nice silver appearance, giving them a luxurious look and feel. Where the original SenseGlove (development kit) occasionally felt a bit flimsy and bulky, the SenseGlove Nova is a real improvement and we see this product appealing to the masses.
On top of the SenseGlove Nova glove is a built-in mount where you can attach a tracker or a Quest 2-controller. When purchasing the SenseGlove Nova, it is important to specify which platform you will be using the glove with so that the product is delivered with the correct mount. SenseGlove offers the following options: HTC VIVE Tracker, Oculus Quest 2-Controller, or Pico Neo 3-controller.
Fully wireless
The gloves are just as easy to put on as regular gloves. Where the first version of SenseGlove was quite a hassle to get over your fingers correctly, with the SenseGlove Nova, it is no problem to put the glove on correctly. Furthermore, the glove is made of flexible and lightweight material, allowing you to move your fingers easily. As such, it does not hinder you during use in the virtual world.
The SenseGlove Nova works completely wirelessly via a Bluetooth connection with the headset or computer. This is a huge advantage as you do not have to keep track of the cables around the gloves. Combine the SenseGlove Nova with a Pico Neo 3 headset, and you can move around completely freely.
Haptic feedback
Perhaps the most important feature of the SenseGlove Nova is the haptic feedback it provides. The SenseGlove Nova has built-in motors that ensure your fingers in the virtual world are "stopped" when, for example, you pick something up. This stopping is achieved through small wires that run from the glove to the tips of your fingers. The force-feedback works very well in the SenseGlove. However, there is still a noticeable lag (delay) in the process of picking things up.
There is also slightly less power in the SenseGlove Nova. Compared to the original development kit, there is less strength in grasping with the Nova. This is because the SenseGlove Nova-handschoen has a built-in battery and can be used completely wirelessly. In the original development kit, the glove was connected with a cable, allowing more power to be given to the glove feedback. Overall this is not a problem, but the difference is noticeable when comparing the original development kit to the newer Nova.
Finger-tracking
Besides haptic feedback, the SenseGlove Nova also features finger-tracking. The SenseGlove Nova-handschoen utilises the built-in tracking cameras of the headset. This is (at the moment) only possible with the Quest 2 and Pico Neo 3-headsets. If you do not use the built-in finger-tracking (for example, when precise hand tracking is important), you can place the controller - or an HTC tracker - on the top of the glove.
The SenseGlove Nova is a significant improvement over the original development kit. Mainly the fact that the glove has received a better design does a lot for the massa-adoptie of this product. Also, the fact that the SenseGlove Nova can be used completely wirelessly makes it much more attractive for companies and organisations to experiment with a haptic feedback-handschoen.
The SenseGlove Nova may not yet be ready to go mainstream with every VR-headset, but for companies and organisations that use virtual reality-training or simulations, it can be a very nice addition to the VR-ervaring. In any case, we expect to hear a lot more from SenseGlove in the near future and look forward to a new variant of the haptic gloves!
Tip!using a VR Wearable such as the SenseGlove Nova requires the necessary knowledge. Therefore, get advice from our Digital Tech Specialist to discuss your requirements! This way, we can immediately provide the right recommendation for the right AR-bril and possibly the software to be used.
