Sensiks offers a glimpse of the direction multisensory-based VR could be heading.
It’s no secret current VR technology faces many obstacles. One of the most glaring of which is delivering visceral, skin-deep sensations to its users. Amsterdam-based startup Sensiks is looking to solve this problem with “sensory reality pods,” or SR, as its CEO calls it. Put simply, the SR pod is a high-tech booth capable of emitting artificial heat, wind and more while wearing an Oculus Rift headset.
I had the chance to try out Sensiks myself while at VR World London this week, as well as steal a few words from CEO Fred Galstaun.
“We make multi-sensory experiences,” said Galstaun. “You can take any virtual reality content and we add wind, smell, extra sound effects, vibrations, heat fluctuations.”
When I tried out the mythical forest-like “Longing for Wilderness,” the wind and smell effects were a bit of an afterthought for me, going relatively unnoticed throughout the entirety of my experience. On top of that, the audio didn’t have the encompassing sound one would expect from a VR experience. Then again, every user is bound to experience the booth in different ways depending on their levels of sensitivity, what they’re wearing, as well as a host of other elements coming into play.
Of course there’s always room for improvement, but Galstaun claims the company’s main focus right now is on it’s content.
“We are really focused with connecting with the content creators,” he said. “Our product is as good as the content, so we really need top-notch content.”
The startup provides a platform where VR creators can “sensify” and sell their content for use in the booths. Sensiks takes a 20 percent commission with the remaining earnings going to the developer. As of today, the company has around 50 SR experiences available.
Sensiks has attracted clients such as the European sports retailer Intersport and airlines Thomas Cook and Lufthansa. Galstaun said Sensiks can help you “feel before you book” a vacation or get shoppers “in the summer mood and then they want to buy more bikinis.”
But the booth also has its therapeutic purposes, Galstaun said, it can help people who are sensory deprived like dementia or chemotherapy patients. Next week, a pod commissioned by the pediatric cancer non-profit Prinses Maxima will open at a hospital in Utrecht.
“During the chemo, you can go to another place,” he said.
When asked how much a booth costs to make, Galstaun wouldn’t share a specific number, but he did reveal the computer alone costs more than $2,500. And when it comes to how much to buy a booth: “It depends on who’s asking.”
Galstaun says since Sensiks’ initial launch at last years annual SXSW in Austin, Texas, the company has shipped 25 of the booths with another 50 currently on back order.
“We are really happy with that,” said Galstaun. “For us, it’s going quite well.”
Galstaun assures that the company is completely self-funded, but does plan to raise money through an initial coin-offering (ICO) in October. People can use the upcoming cryptocurrency tokens for experiences in a pod or to discount or buy an entire booth.
Image Credit: Dieter Holger / Sensiks
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