Afference, a company specializing in neural interfaces, has raised $1.5 million in funding to develop its new platform called Phantom. Konvoy led the funding round, and Afference plans to use the money to enhance the Phantom platform, which offers a unique haptic device for users to “feel” things in virtual reality environments. The Phantom is a handheld wearable that uses electrical signals to communicate sensation on the skin to the user’s brain, rather than pressure. It can be connected to virtual and mixed reality devices via Bluetooth.
The CEO of Afference, Jacob Segil, stated that spatial computing requires a paradigm shift in how we interact with digital content, and they are building an artificial sensory platform to make digital interactions as seamless as physical interactions. Taylor Hurst, a principal at Konvoy, noted that haptic feedback is crucial for the true promise of spatial computing, and Afference has developed the best method of delivering artificial sensation. The company plans to launch development kits of the Phantom in early 2024.
In the world of gaming, Afference’s Phantom platform has great potential. By providing a unique haptic experience in virtual reality environments, it can greatly enhance user immersion and interaction with digital content. The funding raised will allow Afference to further develop and improve the Phantom platform, bringing it closer to market readiness. With its focus on delivering artificial sensation to users, Afference aims to transform the way we perceive and engage with virtual reality, opening up new possibilities for spatial computing. The launch of development kits in 2024 will pave the way for developers to incorporate the Phantom technology into their virtual reality experiences, ushering in a new era of immersive gaming.