{"id":63271,"date":"2026-03-18T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=63271"},"modified":"2026-03-17T13:10:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T04:10:33","slug":"japanese-tech-company-develops-vibrating-balls-that-make-vtuber-concerts-feel-more-immersive-through-tactile-sensations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/japanese-tech-company-develops-vibrating-balls-that-make-vtuber-concerts-feel-more-immersive-through-tactile-sensations\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese tech company develops “vibrating balls” that make VTuber concerts feel more immersive through tactile sensations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Japanese tech company NTT Docomo recently announced<\/a> a new line of haptic devices powered by their Feel Tech technology that will allow for a more \u201cimmersive\u201d experience of virtual concerts. In collaboration with Cover Corporation\u2019s VTuber talent agency hololive, the company held the first demonstration of the technology at this year\u2019s SXSW in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Docomo, Feel Tech is a technology that \u201cdigitally translates\u201d human sensations like tactile and emotional cues from audio-visual content through a ball-shaped handheld haptic device. By synchronizing their device with a VTuber\u2019s virtual performance, users are able to experience physical sensations (such as vibrations, pulses and movements) directly transmitted from the idol themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recent trial demonstration of the Feel Tech technology, presented in collaboration with hololive English -Myth-, had participants choose one of the three members of the idol group which they wanted to \u201cconnect with,\u201d showing them a pre-recorded video performance. The participants would hold a penlight and the ball device, synchronized with their idol member of choice, in their hand while the video was playing. According to a user review by u\/BlackPenguin on Reddit<\/a>, the ball devices would react with the idol\u2019s movements, lighting up, vibrating and pulsing in tune with the performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this trial was only focused on VTuber performances, one of Docomo\u2019s goals for Feel Tech is to \u201cenhance Japan’s rapidly growing \u2018oshi-katsu culture.\u201d As suggested in the press release, this means that the technology probably won\u2019t be limited to virtual idols and streamers, and that future tests might focus on other areas of Japanese media, including anime and video games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese scientists are one step closer to making your catgirl fantasies come true in VR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Japanese company NTT Docomo recently presented their Feel Tech haptic devices in collaboration with hololive English -Myth-.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":63273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,65],"tags":[17,66],"class_list":["post-63271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-nongaming-news","tag-japan-related-news","tag-non-gaming-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nJapanese tech company develops "vibrating balls" that make VTuber concerts feel more immersive through tactile sensations - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Japanese company NTT Docomo recently presented their Feel Tech haptic devices in collaboration with hololive English -Myth-.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/japanese-tech-company-develops-vibrating-balls-that-make-vtuber-concerts-feel-more-immersive-through-tactile-sensations\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Japanese tech company develops "vibrating balls" that make VTuber concerts feel more immersive through tactile sensations - 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