Sony’s new foot-operated controllers aim to further enhance the AR/VR gaming experience.
Sony has introduced two different foot-operated controller concepts designed for AR and VR games with its latest patent application. The innovative design aims to offer players a more natural and immersive movement experience.
Innovative Design from Sony
The first visual features a controller design containing one or two balls that can be controlled using the user’s foot. The balls, reminiscent of old PC trackballs, provide smoother rotation thanks to the encoders they contain.
The second visual presents a semi-circular foot design and a wide touch surface that can be used with both feet. The touch surface allows users to manage complex controls using both feet. Additionally, proximity sensors in the controller detect objects approaching it, adjusting in-game sensitivity accordingly.
Sony’s patent application for these foot-operated controllers was filed on June 10, 2022, and was recently published. Although the release date is still unclear, the publication of the patent suggests advancements in prototype and pre-production stages. The patent was invented by senior hardware engineers Glenn Black, Celeste Bean, Sergey Bashkirov, and Michael Taylor.
Aiming to Solve Limited Movement Area in AR/VR Games
Sony’s new controllers aim to resolve the issue of limited movement space for users in AR/VR games. Users will achieve a more natural and immersive experience as they can stay stationary for movement and use the controllers for actions within the game. Components such as CPU, memory, digital-analog converters, voltage regulators, and power management found in both types of controllers enable independent operation. This allows the controllers to calculate user movement, approach, and position, and transmit the necessary data to the main computer.
