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Trying the Rink, a way to use your hands in Samsung's virtual reality (pictures)

This amazing Samsung prototype could make affordable virtual reality far more immersive.

Sean Hollister
When his parents denied him a Super NES, he got mad. When they traded a prize Sega Genesis for a 2400 baud modem, he got even. Years of Internet shareware, eBay'd possessions and video game testing jobs after that, he joined Engadget. He helped found The Verge, and later served as Gizmodo's reviews editor. When he's not madly testing laptops, apps, virtual reality experiences, and whatever new gadget will supposedly change the world, he likes to kick back with some games, a good Nerf blaster, and a bottle of Tejava.
Sean Hollister
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1 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

The Rink wireless controllers can let you put your hands into virtual worlds.

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2 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

The prototype, built by six Samsung engineers who met in a hackathon, consists of two wireless controllers and a miniature base station that fits on top of a Samsung Gear VR. The engineers doesn't know when they might ship or what they might cost, or even if they'll become an official Samsung product or get rolled out as their own company.

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3 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

The base station generates an electromagnetic field, and these two controllers receive signals that tell them where they are in relation to the headset.

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4 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

They fit on your hands kind of like brass knuckles, sliding on easily.

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5 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

Each controller has infrared sensors under your fingers and thumb, so you can wiggle them in the virtual worlds and games can see when you try to grasp.

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6 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

Here's a side view of the controller.

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7 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

A closer look at the base station.

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Rink motion controller for VR

The back of the base station.

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9 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

Here I am using the Rink in a Iron Man like game where I'm flying above the ocean, shooting bolts out of my hands. The controllers disconnected a few times when I was playing, so clearly there are some kinks to work out.

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10 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

Here I am using the Rink in a Iron Man like game where I'm flying above the ocean, shooting bolts out of my hands. The controllers disconnected a few times when I was playing, so clearly there are some kinks to work out.

samsung-rink-ces-2016.jpg
11 of 11 Sean Hollister/CNET

Rink motion controller for VR

Tony Stark has nothing on me.

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