All Mode
Last week, I discussed the new HTC Vive Prototype controllers called “Knuckles” which look to be a great addition to the HTC Vive ecosystem. Taking a page from the finger tracking Oculus Rift controllers, the Knuckle controllers track all five fingers thereby allowing developers to create unique and immersive hand/finger gesture systems. This is great because new gesture systems mean that developers can include new control options and immersive virtual reality hand representation systems.
https://youtu.be/kovhtH3r9o0
A video (above) has surfaced online that shows how the Knuckles controllers work. This video gives us a much better picture than last week’s diagrams (see below). As you can see in the video, the Knuckles system works beautifully. All of the user’s fingers are tracked and represented in virtual reality in a fluid and dynamic manner. In the video, you can see how this works when users interact with objects in a virtual environment. Like the Oculus Rift controllers, the Knuckle system allows users to point in virtual reality by just pointing with their real hands.
Image credit: HTC and Valve
Going beyond pointing is where the knuckles system surpasses the Oculus Rift controller system. The Knuckles system allows users to pinch, grab, and slap objects with any combination of fingers. In the video, you can see how the user is able to pick up a virtual reality tea cup using just their index finger and their thumb. A dainty gesture indeed!
Image credit: HTC and Valve
The knuckles system allows users to do much more than grabbing and picking up objects. Towards the end of the video, you can see the user picks up a plate and then accurately throws it at a wall. Although this may not sound like that big of a deal, this is actually a pretty big technical achievement. Throwing an object means that the system is fast enough that users can time the grip and release action in a manner that replicates real like object chucking.
Precise movement of ALL the fingers!
Image credit: HTC and Valve
Overall, the Knuckles system looks much more precise than I would have ever expected. As you can see the video, each finger is independently tracked by the controllers themselves. Tracking each finger individually is where the Knuckles system beats the Oculus Rift controller system to Brazil and back.
This means that users will be able to produce any number of finger gestures in VR. Virtual reality sign language? Yes, this may be possible. Virtual Reality bird flipping? Definitely.
There’s more. Although the video has no information on how the controllers work, I could see that detailed finger tracking also works. This means that users will be able to produce more than binary open/extended or closed finger gestures and movements. In the other words, the system seems to be able to recognize various degrees of bent and extended finger movement. For this to work, the controllers must be able to sense how close each finger is to the touch sensitive zones.
As for the possibilities in term of virtual reality porn? They are endless indeed. Virtual reality titty twisters will be so easy with the Knuckles system that I imagine a whole genre of games will be built around the concept. Developers out there, I want virtual reality titty twister combat on VR porn ASAP!
lol thats a great feature, wish there was some soft padding on controller