Force Feedback

During my ongoing literature review I often discover interesting facts about things I’ve never thought about. Sometimes I can connect these facts with my own observations: The result is mostly a completely new idea why things are as they are. Maybe these ideas are new to you, too. Therefore I’ll share my new science based knowledge with you!

This week: This time, I think about my first time experience of using a force feedback device.

Realistic racing simulations belong to my favorite computer games as they have a very strong immersive effect and are an ideal environment to observe my personal improvement over time. On the one hand, the strong immersion is a result of the visual representation of the virtual racing as racing simulations allow me to enjoy the gameplay from the driver’s perspective, thus giving me the feeling of actually driving the car. On the other hand, the strong immersion is also a result of the realistic physics-engine that simulates the behavior of the car correctly and provides me with feedback about the car’s performance and the surface condition.

Furthermore, the realistic physics-engine helps me to observe my personal improvement as it provides me with an immediate feedback about my driving performance. Over time, I develop a feeling for a race car which enables me to drive it at its limits without loosing control over it. In the end, the feeling provided by the physics-engine allows me to recognize when I start to master a particular race car. In addition, the racing itself provides me with lots of feedback about my improvement as I get constantly informed about my lap time and thus I can visualize my progress.

DiRT Rally

Recently, developing a feeling for a race car has reached a completely new dimension for me. Until the end of last week, I was playing racing games with a very basic, no force feedback racing wheel that featured only 280° of rotation. Now, I have upgraded to a 900° of rotation force feedback racing wheel that really helps me to develop a feeling for a race car. Although the positive effects of force feedback are already well known, I was blown away as I played a racing game for the very first time using the new racing wheel as this was also my first time experience of the current generation of force feedback. Using it resulted in a new dimension of immersion as the force feedback provides me with an additional layer of feedback about the status of my car. Additionally, based on this feedback, it is much easier to develop a feeling for a particular race car and to control it at its very limits.

Finally, I was really amazed as I played for the very first time the off-road racing simulation DiRT Rally with my new racing wheel as it provided me with an accurate feedback about the surface condition. In particular, my first race took place on a gravel road and the emulated vibrations of my racing wheel resulted the same feeling I experienced while I was driving along gravel roads in Iceland.

In the end, driving a virtual race car now feels almost as if I would be driving a real car. Well, except for the fact that I unfortunately do not feel the acceleration on my body. Still, I can not wait for the next ride along a virtual race track!