Sony patents hot/cold Move controller

Sony has patented a controller with bands lining the handle to turn hot or cold based on game feedback.

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Sony has had some crazy innovation ideas for its controllers before, some more successful than others. A new patent poses another off-the-wall idea that could come to pass: a controller that turns hot or cold based on gameplay feedback. It looks like a Move wand, but with a set of bands that change temperature.

Kotaku reports that the patent published this week details a few of its applications. The controller could heat up when your gun overheats or when you're hit with a fireball, turn hot or cold when you're searching for something, or (with the help of biometric feedback) cool down your hands when they get sweaty.

The patent isn't any guarantee that Sony will make the device. In fact, between the biometric controller and Sony's answer to Kinect, the company in the habit of odd device patents lately. But then again, we thought the Move wheel looked a bit on the strange side too, and that one actually happened.

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  • reply
    October 12, 2012 4:00 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Sony patents hot/cold Move controller.

    Sony has patented a controller with bands lining the handle to turn hot or cold based on game feedback.

    • reply
      October 12, 2012 4:04 PM

      I imagine that would totally eat batteries.

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      October 12, 2012 4:40 PM

      awesome, not from a gameplay perspective because that just seems stupid, but from a 'how on earth do you make something cold using batteries' perspective. Anybody know?

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      October 12, 2012 4:55 PM

      Hurray for sweaty controllers!

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      October 12, 2012 8:56 PM

      Fun Fact: Warm and cold, when felt next to each other, simulates the sensation of burning hot.

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        October 13, 2012 4:28 PM

        Not so fun fact: when you're freezing enough, you'll get delusional, feel really "hot", remove your clothes and eventually die naked. Lots of people have been found dead butt naked upon getting lost during winter.

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      October 12, 2012 10:41 PM

      I taped out this concept months ago and contacted valve about it for their wearable/hardware initiative. Shoulda sought a patent I guess!

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      October 13, 2012 6:55 AM

      Yah bad idea... i don't want some controller to change temperature. Also what happens if the thing malfunctions?

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      October 14, 2012 4:36 PM

      What about wet and dry?
      Sticky and Slippery?
      Shocky or Stingy?

      Keep em coming, Sony, you're doing a bang up job.

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      October 14, 2012 6:01 PM

      I can already see the lawsuit headline for this

      "Man burns hands after playing with his controller for 8 straight hours"

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