[intro music]
Until now, computers, movies, music and video games have been limited to the dimensions
of sight and sound.
But suppose you could feel the action you've been seeing and hearing?
Well that's what the Aura Systems Inc Interactor Cushion can help with.
Let's take a look.
A 3D Sound Experience. A Realistic High Fidelity Sensation
Feel the Action & Feel the Bass Brings Your Multimedia Computer to Life
Total Comfort, Convenience & Excitement.
Well, these all sound like things I definitely want, and that chap's expression seems to
align with those promises, and that's despite playing with a bordered screen in Doom 2.
He seems to be right at the start of the game, so maybe he's just getting to grips with it.
Using some very generic, and somewhat out of place imagery, we find out that the cushion
is suitable for Personal Computers, Television and CD Music and Video Games. Impressive,
however the beginnings of the Interactor didn't start out like that...
In the 1970s, and before THX, there was something called Sensurround in movie theaters. The
brainchild of Hollywood producer, Jennings Land, Sensurround was designed to give a show
like spectacle. An experience that you would not only be able to see, but also feel.
At the beginning of the film Earthquake, released in 1974 a warning appeared in select cinemas;
"ATTENTION! This motion picture will be shown in the startling new multi-dimension of Sensurround.
Please be aware that you will feel as well as see and hear realistic effects such as
might be experienced in an actual earthquake. The management assumes no responsibility for
the physical or emotional reactions of the individual viewer."
A series of speakers were setup around the theatre, and combined with very low tones
in the soundtrack, an earthquake simulation was created at the precise moment it hit on
screen. Providing an intense and powerful experience for spectators.
This then was the inspiration for Larry Shultz to lead a team at Aura Systems Inc to create
a vest which could shake you, and create a similar experience. Aura Systems Inc were
more known for working in the defence industry, but wanted to expand their business model.
It was with this that a device, known as the Interactor Virtual Reality Vest was created.
This force-feedback device relied on patented electromagnetic actuator technology to convert
bass sound waves into strong vibrations, to help immerse the player into their game.
Of course, the 90s were all about the emerging world of Virtual Reality, and enhancing the
game experience with all kinds of strange, fangled and often terrible devices. Released
in 1994, the Aura Interactor vest played straight into that market, and even signed a deal with
Acclaim to promote Mortal Kombat II. Combined with a $5,000,000 advertising campaign, the
Interactor sold sell and was actually pretty well received as an enhancing accessory.
This interesting product that Kevin's holding is the Interactor Cushion by Aura.
So, racing games in the past have incorporated a feature in the seat, so that when you took
an impact in the race, you actually felt a thump in your seat. That's what this machine
tries to replicate in your home...
So, roll on a couple of years and we get a cushion variant. It's essentially the same
device, just for the more casual user... and really, it's that fact. The mundanity of the
box which drew me to it. It feels very much like it's caught somewhere between trying
to be a radical gaming accessory, and a casual enriching experience for the older consumer
of entertainment. I mean, look at those pictures.
Right, let's crack the box open. Of course, it's sealed. No one actually could be bothered
to use this. Mmmmmmm, that fresh box feel.
Inside is a registration card, a couple of quick start guides, for various devices and
consoles and a user manual.
We get an amplifier in the box, some wires, a hefty power pack and of course the cushion
itself. Look at that. What a thing of magnificence.
Let's see what connections we get. So there's a long 3.5mm audio jack, this strange w shaped
lead, a splitter and an audio jack... let's call it an upscaler.
Now, for my first port of call, I'm going to try this thing with an IBM PC compatible,
given that's how it's portrayed on the box, and also because the year this came out was
the time when PCs were really beginning to take off in terms of gaming. We'll need that
splitter unit to plug into the sound-card and split the audio between the speakers and
the cushion itself.
The other end of that jack then plugs into the amplifier input, which also itself requires
power and then we're pretty much good to go!
Ah, of course, the cushion itself. That plonks onto any old seat, and then plugs into the
amplifier output. Alright, now we're talking.
So to sit on, at least, on this chair, it's actually not too bad. It provides some quite
nice lumbar support, although if you don't have a very deep chair, I imagine it could
pose a bit of problem - it takes up quite a lot of room at the back.
But, yeah, initially, it feels OK. Of course one main problem is, if you stand up, it inevitably
falls over, because there're no straps to connect it to the back of the chair, which
can be a bit of a nuisance.
Alright, let's see what it's like in action.
So first up, I'm just gonna try some simple MIDI files. See if they can get this thing
going.
[Classical MIDI music plays]
Even with a MIDI file, you can actually feel it quite intensely, on your back.
I bet this is gonna be really good with a game... surprisingly good.
[DOOM Sounds]
You can really feel the music thudding along, which is nice, those low basses, but when
you fire a weapon you can feel a short sharp kind of thud into your back, which is quite
satisfying. That's just using the pistol. If I get the shotgun... [shotgun firing sound]...
hohoho, oooo yeah! You get a nice rumble, after you fire, which is nicceee.
[DOOM Sounds]
I thought this was going to be absolutely crap, but I'm actually quite enjoying it.
The Mini Gun is going to be good [loading sound].
Oohhhh yeahhh, just rapid kind of thudding into your back. Really makes you feel a bit
more involved in the action. I guess it's like having a rumble pad, except this gives
you a more all over body experience.
[DOOM monster groaning]
[Gunfire]
If you put it onto normal mode, you get music coming out of the..... cushion itself, which
is, interesting. It's like having surround sound and the low bass rumble in your back.
[click]
I might try turning this music off and just having, the bass, the bass rumble.
[gun firing in distance]
It sounds like artillery firing in the distance, on a bleak battlefield.
Let's put it back onto normal mode.
[Gunfire sounds]
So Doom works pretty well with the Interactor Cushion, and as I found out, there are various
modes which can increase or decrease your joy. Normal mode will allow higher frequencies
from the cushion, giving you a very lo-fi surround sound feeling...
[Muffled sounds from cushion]
Whilst modes A & B only allow the lower frequencies which induce rumble.
[bass sounds from cushion]
Apparently the separate A & B modes were for future games, allowing 2 user to hook 2 amplifiers
up to one computer, and not feel each other's sound... however, there seems to be nothing
which takes advantage of this rather niche feature.
We also get a Game/Music switch, which is supposed to filter game sound effects, but
really is just an FEQ divider, leading to crackly effects and broken music.
You may be pleased to know that other games work just as well as Doom. In fact the weapon
bass on Descent 2 gives you a real smack in the back.
Even using with Sensible Golf, adds a certain intensity you didn't realise could exist,
or that you in fact needed for an enjoyable game.
The poor little Buddha can't even take it.
However, if that's a bit too much for your game of golf, you can always reduce the power
output or filter the frequency range using the on board controls.
Alright, so it works well with the PC, but how about other machines. Well, the Mega Drive
is an easy win, because we can simply use the same 3.5mm audio cable plugged into the
Mega Drive's headphone jack. Like the PC, the rumble is intense and punchy. I tried
playing with Virtua Racer, which was a reasonable experience, but the car engines were a bit
too high pitched to get a real sense for the action.
What we need is a more appropriate driving game. A game which will make the Interactor
Cushion it's own, and actually give you the feel of a roaring engine, just behind the
driver's seat.
BUT FIRST.
WE NEED TO WORK OUT THIS SHI**TTING WIRING DIAGRAM. I MEAN WHAT C*CK SUCKING BUFFOON
WOULD TAKE SOMETHING SO SIMPLE AND COMPOUND IT INTO THIS INTRICATE STAIN OF SICKNESS.
Look at it, what does it even mean?? What the hell?!
After some intense concentration, the riddle was solved, and the cushion was ready to go
with the Playstation and Destruction Derby 2.
Hooo God! That is IMMENSE bass on the Sony startup sound.
Now, I thought I'd try a different setting. I thought I'd try a lounge type setting to
see how this works on the sofa, and initially it seems quite good.
[Rumbling engine sounds]
Oohhhh, the engine sounds. Proper feel it in your back.
[Car smashing sounds]
"Wow!"
Now this is a better game to use with this cushion. You can feel the engine sounds. You
can feel the crash sounds, and you can feel the music as well.
It definitely works well with the Playstation. But that's not all. Because audio jack technology
hasn't really moved on since the mid '90s, we can use this cushion with modern day equipment.
Here I've set it up with my current PC to use with Nibre's Alien Isolation VR hack,
and good god. This is where this thing comes alive.
Being able to feel the alien's footsteps thudding around...
[Thudding sounds, alien sounds, ship sounds]
the howling sound of air swirling around the ship, the rumbling of engines, it really does add to the intensity of immersion here.
[ALIEN]..... F*$k!
Really, in a way that couldn't be realised in the 90s. Perhaps this cushion was actually
very far ahead of it's time, and only now, can the dream be realised.
Failing that, you can always rip out the shakers and install them in your sofa, like various
people seem to have done on the internet. I mean, they have 25w of RMS power, about
50 max, so a couple under a 3 seater sofa should put you in good stead, marvellous.
As for me, well, I'll be keeping it nearby, y'know, for close encounters.
The cushion never sold as well as its backpack predecessor, which allegedly sold several
hundred thousand. But then, it was never going to. This cushion didn't have the huge marketing
campaign associated with that latest fangled accessory. No, this was just another way to
sell the same technology to a more laid back market. From what I can tell, it lingered
on until the early noughties, witnessed at a discount price in the Australian market.
However, I feel, finally, in 2019, it's true potential has been unlocked.
Thanks for watching, have a great evening.