Microsoft’s Research group is at it again, showing off a bunch of new controllers for augmented and virtual reality. They’re strictly experimental for now, but show a lot of potential for making AR and VR more fun and inclusive.
Microsoft showed off the “Canetroller,” a simulated cane for the blind. When you sweep it around a simulated world, it stops when it hits objects, thanks to a wearable, programmable brake. Via vibrotactile feedback, it vibrates when you sweep it across the ground, just like a cane in the real world. Both sensations are enhanced by auditory feedback that simulates the sound of a cane in the real world.