Cambridge Consultants has announced the Suma – a “squeezable interface technology” that will improve control for gaming, the web and other apps by offering “a uniquely intuitive, high resolution 3D control experience”. Fancy groping your way around the web? Putting the squeeze on gaming rivals? Crimping out endless grip-related gags? Read on.
The Suma is an oddball. It looks weird, but it’s actually very clever. Cambridge Consultants claims for just a dollar more (about 60p in real money) than a conventional controller, such as a mouse or a control-pad, the Suma’s squeezable user interface will provide a more realistic experience.
The Suma “skin” works by transforming squeezes into software commands. This means a more sensitive control by finger movements, as well as gripping, resulting in more freedom than you get with traditional controllers.
Suma’s developer says that the controller will work well with 2D applications, but will come into its own with the advent of 3D technologies. “Emerging trends like 3D displays and augmented reality are bound to stimulate interest in Suma’s unique capabilities,” says Duncan Smith of Cambridge Consultants.
The Suma sounds as it would be great for gaming. Use it with Call of Duty and you could get far more accuracy with your hand-grenade launching. Hook it up to a racing game, and it’ll how how intensely you’re gripping the steering wheel. And for cricket sims it would be perfect – you’d be able to pitch the seam exactly as you wanted, getting some Shane Warne style spin – and possibly a dislocated shoulder.
Cambridge Consultants will be demonstrating the Suma at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from 7-10 January next year. We’ll be on hand to take a look, and have a cheeky squeeze too.
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