Virtual Reality is a very immersive medium, encapsulating users with fully 3D worlds. The oncoming wave of Metaverse worlds aims to put humanity in that immersion at all times. However, for most people, that immersion will be missing something: Metaverse Pain!
As virtual worlds get more and more immersive, the disconnect of feeling will feel even more pronounced. However, companies are already working on advanced, powerful electric apparel to make sure you feel everything in VR. Even gunshots.
Can you feel Metaverse Pain?
Reported by Financial Times, Sony backed startup H2L is working on technology to bring enhanced pain to denizens of The Metaverse. Using electricity, the startup hopes to recreate the exact feelings a virtual avatar would have on that avatar’s owner.
The device, a small white arm band, is worn by the user while using VR applications. The technology uses sensors to detect the movement of muscles. When movement is detected, electric currents are used to zap muscles into feeling the same actions as avatars.
For example, if a player is shot, a larger current is used to replicate the blast. On the other hand, if bugs are crawling around the player, a collection of tiny electric currents can be used to replicate the feeling. Which sounds absolutely horrible.
However, H2L is adamant that the pure intended purpose of its hardware is to deliver realistic metaverse pain. H2L chief executive and co-founder Emi Tamaki explained that hurting users is the only way to truly immerse them. They said:
“Feeling pain enables us to turn the metaverse world into a real [world], with increased feelings of presence and immersion. [We want to] release humans from any sort of constraint in terms of space, body and time”
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The non-pain benefits sound great
Despite the terrifying villain-esque speech about separating humanity from space and time, H2L’s technology does have some intriguing benefits. For example, Tamaki describes the technology as being perfect for recreating the feeling of real-life concerts or venues.
Tamaki, who suffers from a heart disease, explained that the metaverse pain tech is also useful for making virtual replications of experiences realistic. For unwell people, this tech could be used to make anything possible.
“People like me, who cannot go out often because I don’t have enough muscle due to heart disease, can travel anywhere, anytime [with this],” Tamaki said.
HL2’s technology could certainly become a useful tool for the future. However, we don't really know how many people are looking forward to being hurt in virtual reality. Well, there definitely will be some people who will love the pain, but that's not to be discussed here.