Tactile Technology – Beyond Subwoofers – Humans experience sound and motion thru two primary paths – air and ground. One vibrates our eardrums creating audible sound, and the other is low and infrasonic frequency motion felt primarily thru our kinesthetic (muscle) and touch senses. Both paths have some frequency overlap, but one without the other results in a sensory experience that is only partially accurate. The most “realistic” sensory experience results from airborne and ground-borne waves delivered in harmony. Even the highest-quality AV system may leave viewers/listeners sensing that something is missing without tactile devices. “Bass junkies” crank up subwoofers beyond normal listening levels to try to compensate for the missing tactile sense. And tactile technology is not just for movies or gaming – even solo classical instruments such as violin or piano can take on an amazing impression of reality with the addition of a subtle tactile transducer.
There are two basic types: linear actuators and inertial shakers. The latter are offered by such manufacturers as Clark Synthesis, Aura, Earthquake Audio, Guitammer and Sonic Immersion Technologies. These devices are attached directly to the frame of a chair or sofa. The inertial forces of a swinging mass in the housing is transferred to the object to which it is attached. They enhance the audible bass covered by the subwoofer(s) with a tactile shaking or rumble effect. Linear actuators for home theater, made by d-Box, Crowson and others, replace the static feet on a chair and directly lift, shake and drop the chair – similar to the technology used in commercial “rides.” They are more expensive than shakers since they reproduce the kinesthetic frequencies from 0 to 30H as well as the tactile frequencies. d-Box even has an advanced proprietary Motion Code system which uses preprogrammed motion tracks which are played thru linear actuators. Their motion programmers code each scene of an action movie by hand, serving up codes for both classic and new release films as quickly as possible to meet customer demand. Tactile technology delivers personalized and realistic impact with all these hidden devices, powered by a separate amp off the LFE channel, and reducing threats to human hearing. (Anyone for founding a charitable organization to put these devices in all those cars bouncing down the street annoying everyone in earshot with their absurd subwoofer thumps?)
