Oculus Rift Add-On Let's You Experience 'Smell-O-Vision'
The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset is designed to deliver an immersive visual experience while integrating spatial audio for a truly enhanced sense of “presence”.
However, what would it feel like to use more than just your visual, and audio senses? Well, a company called Feelreal is hoping to fulfill that “feeling” with its new Bluetooth-powered mask compatible with the Oculus Rift and other VR HMDs.
The Feelreal mask is an add-on device that attaches to the bottom of your Oculus Rift headset—while covering the lower half of your face. The mask allows the user to experience a completely different sense of immersion with the use of heat, and cool air blowing against the skin, water misters, a vibration engine, including a built-in microphone, and an odor generator to recreate unique scents of the virtual world around you. Yes, this is ‘Smell-o-Vision’, folks!
Seven different scents are supported with the use of a removable cartridge—these include:
- Ocean
- Jungle
- Fire
- Grass
- Powder
- Flowers
- Metal
According to The Verge’s hand-on report at GDC, the mask was not exactly the most comfortable experience. However, it did manage to provide an instance of realism when the cool air, and water mist gave the sensation of passing near a waterfall.
While the Feelreal mask is not yet consumer-ready, a Development Kit is currently available for pre-order and priced at $249.99. Shipments are expected in Summer 2015.