Forum Discussion
SensAble PHANTOM Omni (Haptics Pen)
I was just listening to the Rev VR podcast about Haptics technology and it reminded me of a device I used back in 2006 or 2007 at an Autodesk convention. It's called PHANTOM Omni by a company called SensAble (not sure if this has been discussed on the forums).
http://www.sensegraphics.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage_sensegraphics&product_id=22&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=83&vmcchk=1&Itemid=83
This is a tool thats like a Wacom Pen for 3 dimentional use that has force-feedback. I tried it on a digital sculpting software (could have been Mudbox) and as I pressed against the model feeling the shape and pressing in holes, it felt like I was actually working on a physical model. The haptics were spot on as I recall and was totally blown away. Obviously the arm gets limited movement based on the shape your pressing against but it was phenomenal.
I've posted this because maybe some people developing a new Input Device could look at this and might find something useful to implement on their hardware. Or even SensAble themselves could make something for gaming.
Heres a video of someone using it, but you cant really see the Force-Feedback but you do see it in motion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REA97hRX0WQ
http://www.sensegraphics.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage_sensegraphics&product_id=22&category_id=8&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=83&vmcchk=1&Itemid=83
This is a tool thats like a Wacom Pen for 3 dimentional use that has force-feedback. I tried it on a digital sculpting software (could have been Mudbox) and as I pressed against the model feeling the shape and pressing in holes, it felt like I was actually working on a physical model. The haptics were spot on as I recall and was totally blown away. Obviously the arm gets limited movement based on the shape your pressing against but it was phenomenal.
I've posted this because maybe some people developing a new Input Device could look at this and might find something useful to implement on their hardware. Or even SensAble themselves could make something for gaming.
Heres a video of someone using it, but you cant really see the Force-Feedback but you do see it in motion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REA97hRX0WQ
7 Replies
- Have you seen the Novint Falcon? It's almost exactly the same thing as that, but designed for gaming.
http://www.novint.com/index.php/novintfalcon
They were supposedly working on a full arm haptic controller called the Xio...
http://www.novint.com/index.php/novintxio
...but the last video of that was in 2011 and their website says copyright 2012, so I think they may have gone out of business or something. I heard good things about the Novint Falcon, it seems like the kinda thing that might have done really well if it had come out around now with all this interest in VR instead of 2 years ago. Although maybe not with its $250 price tag. - Well, actually, just looked at their website again and saw that they have a summer 2013 promotion going right now, so they must still be around. :lol:
Also saw that they do specialized versions of the Falcon for almost any purpose.
http://www.novintcustom.com/ "siltaf" wrote:
dear phantom users
you already know that price of omni is so much that every one cant afford , or if any one buy one item than has nothing much to buy next. i have a surprise for those people who cant afford the large price to buy it. i want to inform those people that i deals the omni and desktop that is china made and price is much low than original.
if any one who wants to take interest to take information and buy , email me at [deleted spam email].
thanks
Great stuff mate, rip of thier IP and hardwork clone and sell it for fraction of the price .....Seriouly! If you have a product worth selling promote it your self, Do not ride on the shoulders of those that genuinely do invoate.
/rant off- This is how the free market works: there's always someone who sells the same thing cheaper. If you can't get your customers' loyalty, you're done.
So yeah but no - lowering the product price, for whatever reason it's happening, is a good thing. It drives the progress. You can't just rip money off your customers forever. - I am currently working with such a device at the technical university of my home town.
And there is a guy selling one for 12.000€ (!) on ebay currently:
http://www.ebay.de/itm/3-D-Modellierungs-System-Sensable-Phantom-Omni-Geomagic-Touch-haptic-3D-TOP-/161432825384?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item2596256e28
The device has an interesting particularity, in that it is connected via an enhanced parallel port interface - yes, an "old" printer interface.
So you got an overpriced device here for 12.000€, which, if you buy, cannot even be hooked up to a standard PC nowadays...
Nevertheless, the thing is quite fascinating, and I am currently exploring its programming capabilities. - Hi,
If you are yet interrested by the Phantom Omni, I sell one in France!
thanks
DS - Sorry, sales are not allowed on the forum. Thanks.
