Forcetek
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The Xio control harness 'arms' you for action
The Xio from Forcetek is ... well, it's interesting. Rather than reducing your controller to a wand or removing the controller altogether, the Xio is a harness that attaches to your arm. The device tracks the motion of your wrist as you turn it and twist it, translating the motions into in-game actions. We got to try it out at E3 with Tom Clancy's HAWX, and it was a novel experience to say the least. We were told by Forcetek that the ultimate goal is to incorporate the technology into an actual suit that can be used in an augmented reality experience of some sort. So yeah, wild.
ForceTek XIO: the gaming controller that hurts you, not the TV (video)
Forget the Wiimote, PlayStation Move and Kinect; here's a controller that actually makes you feel the games. At E3 earlier this week, startup firm ForceTek was seen demoing its XIO Virtual Gaming System -- a rather fancy name for a force-feedback arm exoskeleton that "provides a controlled resistance" to your arm and wrist movement. The rig sure looks like a great addition for action games -- imagine feeling a virtual basketball bouncing, or your virtual machine gun recoiling, or even the reaction force from a virtual punch. Want it now? Try next year, when the XIO will apparently ship at a "competitive" price comparable to that of a guitar for Guitar Hero. See the controller in action after the break, and try not to wince.
