The Aura Interactor was a wearable force-feedback device developed by Aura Systems that monitors an audio signal and uses Aura's patented electromagnetic actuator technology to convert low frequency audio information into vibrations that can represent actions such as a punch or kick. It was compatible with the

Super NES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in E ...

and

Sega Genesis The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Syst ...

. It is the first commercially available

haptic suit A haptic suit (also known as VR suit, tactile suit, gaming suit or haptic vest) is a wearable device that provides haptic feedback to the body. History Aura Interactor (1994) In 1994 Aura Systems launched the Interactor Vest, conceived by Aur ...

, released on September 5, 1994.

Development

Inspired by the movie theater sound system

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, EOR technology develope
Larry Shultz
then Aura's VP of Audio and Video Technologies, fantasized about what it would be like if a person could "feel" the video game, and not just hear it. Shultz, along with Cipora Lavut and Jeff Bluen, led a dedicated team at Aura in inventing the Interactor. Aura signed a deal with Acclaim to promote ''

Mortal Kombat II ''Mortal Kombat II'' is a 1993 arcade fighting game originally produced by Midway for the arcades in 1993. It was later ported to multiple home systems, including MS-DOS, Amiga, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, 32X, Sega Saturn, Super Nint ...

''. In addition to inclusion in Aura's $5,000,000 advertising campaign, Acclaim put Interactor cards in the ''Mortal Kombat II'' game boxes and Aura packed Acclaim information in its Interactor packaging. Also as part of the deal, Acclaim programmed special audio cues into the game code which would trigger responses from the Interactor. Aura also signed a deal with Williams Entertainment to do "strategic marketing" in relation to Williams's releases, '' Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls'' and '' Troy Aikman NFL Football''. Aura and Williams swapped the same kind of promotional opportunities that Aura and Acclaim did.

Reception

The Interactor was successful, with more than 400,000 units sold. It received an "Innovation 94" Design and Engineering Award from the Electronics Industry Association.''Proliferation Threats and Missile Defense Responses'', United States. Congress. House. Committee On National Security. Subcommittee On Military., 1997. ''

Electronic Gaming Monthly ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (often abbreviated to ''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews. History The m ...

'' commented, "For $100, the Interactor is a good value. It provides economy-sized virtual reality in a small package." ''

GamePro Gamepro.com is an international multiplatform video game magazine media company that covers the video game industry, video game hardware and video game software in countries such as Germany and France. The publication, GamePro, was originally la ...

'' stated, "If droppin' a C-note is no bother to you, the Aura Interactor serves its purpose." The device was found to work well with VR i-Glasses plugged in.

References

{{Reflist Video game accessories Haptic technology