PlayStation consoles are one of the best tricks in Sony’s sleeve during the past years and the pressure on the next generation is huge. Playstation 5 has to deliver when it goes on sale at the end of 2020 if the Japanese company wants to keep the momentum. With handheld gaming consoles getting obliterated by mobile phones, Sony seem to have found another way to deliver a unique experience to users on the move. Enter the multifunctional connected game controller!
Sony multifunctional game controller
Sony Interactive Entertainment filed a patent for an “Information output system and method” at the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) on July 24, 2019. The patent was published on November 28, 2019. The documents describe a portable control device with a rectangular shape. It has all the elements of a game controller, including a D-pad, four buttons and two triggers. There’s an LCD display in the centre and also an on/off switch on the bottom.
The key feature is the ability to connect the controller via Bluetooth/WiFi to different devices such a PC, game console, smart TV etc. This allows the user to start a game on a PC and display it on the TV, for example and then use the same controller to play the actual game. You can also listen to music or view photos and videos, stored on the connected device – the controller even has a built-in loudspeaker.
Fingerprint sensor and a heart-rate monitor
There is a unique feature that determines the user’s state – using a fingerprint sensor and a heart-rate monitor in combination with the location of the user. The displayed content is adjusted based on that information. You can open a map if you’re outside and need directions or play a mini-game while waiting for a flight or a train. You can listen to music from your home computer or if you’re at a friend’s house the menu will offer an option to play a game with your friend.
The controller also has a gyroscope and accelerometer that can detect precisely how the device is held. Tilting the controller left or right also changes the view on the screen – for example, you can navigate through a virtual 3D gallery just by pointing the device in a different direction. Images on screen will change in real-time, depending on the movement. This system can also be used to determine if the user is standing still, moving or lying down and offer appropriate content.
Sony PS5 and DualShock 5 controller
Whether Sony actually intends to build and release this unique controller remains unknown. Getting such a device to a prototype stage takes time, which means Sony’s still working on it. There is a strong possibility we see some of the aforementioned features in the next DualShock controller for PlayStation 5. It would make perfect sense for users to be able to take it on the go and use it to control other devices.
Download the official document of the multifuntional Sony PlayStation controller.
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