An example input apparatus includes an elastic member, a base portion and a strain gauge. The elastic member includes a first end portion and a second end portion, and at least a part of the elastic member is elastically deformable. The base portion holds the opposite end portions of the elastic member so that a ring is formed by the base portion and the elastic member. The strain gauge is provided on the base portion and detects a strain generated on the base portion due to deformation of the elastic member in response to an input from the user. Note that instead of the configuration where a ring is formed by the base portion and the elastic member, the input apparatus may be configured so that two elastic members are held by the base portion.

A resistance control system of an amusement attraction includes a support assembly having a base, a pivot joint, and a support beam extending between the base and the pivot joint. The resistance control system includes a spring plate coupled to the pivot joint of the support assembly, and includes at least one spring engaged with the spring plate. Additionally, the resistance control system includes an actuator plate positioned between the spring plate and the base of the support assembly, as well as at least one actuator coupled between the actuator plate and the base. The at least one actuator is configured to move and secure the actuator plate relative to the pivot joint to adjust a resistance to movement about the pivot joint.

The application describes techniques for adaptively setting a threshold that will be used to determine the gain applied to a haptics signal.

In some embodiments, a haptic device comprises first and second multi-dimensional spatial haptic devices. The first spatial haptic device includes a handle to represent a location of one object in a virtual document or space. The second spatial haptic device includes a handle to represent a location of another object in the same virtual document or space. The first and the second handles are spatially registered with respect to each other. In some embodiments, a third spatial haptic device includes a handle to represent a location of yet another object in a virtual document or space.

An operation device includes a movable member that is movable within a predetermined range, and a restriction member that is disposed in a state of being movable in a movable direction of the movable member, that restricts the movable range of the movable member by coming into contact with a contact surface of the movable member in the movable direction, and that can be switched between a state of being in contact with a first range of the contact surface and restricting the movable range of the movable member and a state of being in contact with a second range, the second range being different from the first range, of the contact surface and restricting the movable range of the movable member.

Described herein are controllers with sensor-rich controls for enhanced controller functionality. An example control may include a pressure sensor that is configured to detect an amount of a force of a press on a cover of the control based at least in part on a proximity of a metal layer to the pressure sensor. This control may further include a touch sensor for detecting an object contacting the cover of the control. Additional embodiments disclose, among other things, integrated trackpads and D-pads, as well as backlighting features that indicate a functional state of the controller.

Systems and methods provide haptic feedback at locations of a keyboard palm rest during operation of a software program, such as a video game. During game play, a haptic event, such as an explosion, is detected within the game. A magnitude of the event and a direction of the event from a reference location in the game, such as an avatar's location, are determined. Haptic feedback locations on the palm rest are selected based on the magnitude of the event and the direction of the event from the reference location. Mechanical and thermal haptic feedback are generated at the selected locations of the palm rest, where the strength and timing of the feedback at each location are selected based on the magnitude and direction information for the event. Embodiments thus provide multi-dimensional haptic feedback that relates positional awareness to a user of events occurring within a video game.

Described herein are controllers with sensor-rich controls for enhanced controller functionality. An example control may include a pressure sensor that is configured to detect an amount of a force of a press on a cover of the control based at least in part on a proximity of a metal layer to the pressure sensor. This control may further include a touch sensor for detecting an object contacting the cover of the control. Additional embodiments disclose, among other things, integrated trackpads and D-pads, as well as backlighting features that indicate a functional state of the controller.

Proposed is a visual and tactile AR medium based on augmented reality for providing a user with visual and tactile information matched with the augmented reality when the user experiences the augmented reality through the AR medium capable of being connected to a part of a body of the user, the AR medium including: a tactile augmentation member configured to enable the part of the body of the user to feel the augmented reality in a tactile manner; a visual augmentation member configured to overlay a graphic on the AR medium, and being capable of performing visual change; and a control member configured to perform transmission and reception with the AR medium, wherein the control member is configured to control output of the tactile augmentation member or the visual augmentation member, corresponding to input from the user or the AR medium or both.

Aiming assistance is provided for assisting a user in aiming a ranged weapon at a target. The aiming assistance includes receiving telemetry information from one or more sensors, and determining an aim error based on the telemetry information. The aim error indicates of an error between a trajectory of the ranged weapon and an on target trajectory from the ranged weapon to the target. A somatosensation is provided to the user which is indicative of the aim error. This is done by operating haptic devices of a garment worn on an arm or wrist of the user to apply haptic sensation to skin of the arm or wrist. The haptic devices may be electrodes and the applied haptic sensation comprises transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation (TENS), or the haptic devices may be vibrators.