Mid-air haptic technology commercialised in 4D slot machines

IGT has combined Ultrahaptics’ mid-air haptics technology with glasses-free TRUE 3D and gesture recognition technologies to create multi-sensory gaming experiences.

Ultrahaptics’ technology enables players to experience tactile feedback when they interact with the games’ glasses-free 3D graphics. Players can literally reach out and touch graphics that appear in free space, without the need for haptic gloves.

Ultrahaptics’ CEO, Steve Cliffe, said: “This is a major milestone for the business, and it represents a crucial step in Ultrahaptics’ roadmap: seeing our technology being used by people in their daily lives. We’re excited to be able to support IGT bringing products to market, and I’m thrilled that they have received such critical acclaim for their product.”

IGT is a gaming company and achieved a gaming industry first when it introduced and deployed a slot product that includes this haptic technology, licensing Ultrahaptics’ software. The company first unveiled the CrystalCurve TRUE 4D cabinet and the SPHINX 4D game at the 2016 Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas.

At G2E 2017, IGT unveiled additional TRUE 4D game titles. IGT’s first TRUE 4D game, SPHINX 4D, has now garnered several major gaming industry awards and went live on casino floors in November 2017.

Dallas Orchard, IGT Chief Product Officer, Gaming, said: “Ultrahaptics’ mid-air haptic technology has enabled IGT to create a player experience unlike anything previously offered in the casino industry. IGT’s SPHINX 4D game combines unprecedented technology, with exciting gameplay and cutting-edge hardware to create a phenomenal casino product. The market acceptance and industry awards that the SPHINX 4D game has amassed affirms the value that our customers place on meaningful innovation.”