Rikei Corporation (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoru Isaka; hereinafter “Rikei”) is pleased to announce that Rikei and TEGWAY (Head Office: Daejeon, Republic of Korea; CEO: Kanghee Kim) have jointly developed a VR system that allows users to feel temperature alongside viewing VR images. In January, Rikei started offering a VR system that integrates a thermal haptic device for “Disaster Training VR for Fire Evacuation” which Rikei has delivered to local governments and companies for use in their disaster drills.
Further, ahead of this release, Rikei entered into a strategic partnership for business expansion with TEGWAY.

Background of the market

No matter how high the precision of images and audio used in the disaster drill VR, there were gaps between reality and virtual experiences in terms of feeling the fear of actual fire and smoke. “ThermoReal, ” a VR haptic(*1) device developed by TEGWAY, is highly rated and has been awarded Innovation Awards at CES Awards(*2). Through the incorporation of this device, Rikei has successfully built a VR system that further enhances the value of devices.

*1  Haptics are the technology of transmitting information through the sense of touch.

*2 The CES Awards are a competition honoring products with outstanding design and engineering at CES, the world’s largest tech expo.

Product overview

Synchronized with VR images, the device the user puts on can output temperature responses between 10 and 45 degrees Celsius.

Immediate temperature responses

Conventional temperature devices can heat up, but sudden drops in temperature were a challenge. With the technology integrated into this VR system, temperatures can rise and drop in a few seconds. In addition, a security system is built in so that heating stops automatically when the device gets overheated.

Synchronized with VR images

The temperature device can change its temperature, synchronized with images in VR space. For example, the device gets hot when the user gets closer to burning fire in VR, but it cools down when the user goes away. Further, if several devices are attached, each can generate different responses, so that only the part of the body close to the fire can be heated. The product also has a setting to change temperatures gradually, so the user gradually feels the heat as they draw closer.

Usage examples

• Allows users to feel actual heat when approaching fire or smoke in VR.
• Heightens the realism of experiencing dangerous tasks using heat.
• Gives the experience of working in cold weather by lowering the device temperature.
• With actual temperatures being generated, more effective results can be acquired in analyses such as psychometric tests using VR.
• The system can be applied effectively in the entertainment industry, such as amusement parks.
• The temperature devices can be also synchronized with live-action VR.

“Disaster Training VR for Fire Evacuation”

Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzXEeoN9_mA

Future development

With hot and cold sensations added, users can have more immersive VR experiences. Following the integration into the Disaster Training VR for Fire Evacuation, Rikei will continue its development by adding the element of experiencing actual temperatures to other safety training formats and the automobile industry.

About TEGWAY

TEGWAY is a company that specializes in making flexible thermoelectric devices (FTED) and their applications. Applying the technology of thermoelectric devices (TED), which are used for cooling, heating or electric generation, the company develops thermal haptic devices for VR.

About  Rikei

Established in 1957, Rikei Corporation is a solution provider for the IT and electronics industries. Rikei offers a broad range of solutions centered on the world’s cutting edge technologies and advanced products in the fields of system and network solutions and electronic components and devices. In regard to the development of disaster training VR, Rikei entered into the market in 2017 and have offered systems to over 300 locations since then.

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