Courtesy of The Univerity of Utah
Stretching the imagination
It's a step on from the internal centrifuge controllers employ to create vibrations that feel like you're driving a car, shooting a gun or experiencing an explosion.
Some clever bods at the university of Utah have unveiled a prototype video game controller that they say mimics real-life sensations.
The controller's thumbsticks have little contact buds like the ones on a Thinkpad laptop, which, when moved, provide touch feedback that allows the enhancement of sensations.
So far, the engineers believe they've successfully recreated five different feelings; bounce, pulse, a circular movement, a wave effect and the feeling of crawling along the ground.
So, whether it be the recoil of a gun or the tug of a fish pulling on your fishing rod line, the controller helps bring to life the gaming environment.
Like the Wii and Move before it, the controller's just one of many steps being taken to explore more immersive gaming experiences.
For now, they just need Microsoft to buy into it.