we have about 5,000 Aura Virtual Reality units
$20 each plus shipping
Original retail was $159
www.oshealtd.com
see reviews on site
GREAT device -- I've got one, and I did a review for The Control
Center if you'd like to know more about it:
http://www.joy-stick.net/Visitor%20Reviews/visitoreviews.htm
Here's the text if you're too lazy to click on the URL <G>:
===================================
After seeing a couple of posts on the rec.autos.simulators newsgroup
about the Aura Interactor, I ordered an Aura Interactor for $20 from
O'Shea Ltd. (http://www.oshealtd.com/interact.htm). The Aura
Interactor is a backpack-like sound transducer that is designed to
convert in-game sounds into immersive, bone-jarring vibrations, and
although it's designed for use with consoles, but it's also
PC-compatible. I When it arrived, I promptly hooked it up promptly and
fired up EA's Sports Car GT and I was literally blown away! In some
ways, it may be better than a force feedback wheel -- getting to feel
the engine vibrations (and thumps from shifting and rumbles from the
rumble strips) REALLY enhances the experience.
In SCGT, I immediately found myself getting "into" the game even more
than usual. Instead of just relying on sound for shift points, it felt
much more like a real in-car experience. Viper Racing turned out to be
slightly less impressive because it features a higher-pitched engine
note that doesn't produce the same kind of rumble that the updated
SCGT sound files create, but it was still VERY immersive.
Grand Prix Legends was an even bigger surprise -- the engine note
there is what I would consider somewhat high-pitched, but the
sensations felt RIGHT for what I imagine a 1967-era Grand Prix car
would feel like under power (it reminded me quite a bit of what it's
like sitting in the seat of a high- strung, high-revving go-kart at
speed).
Wearing a jetpack-like contraption on your back while playing video
games might sound a bit silly, but even though the Aura Interactor is
designed to be worn like a backpack or a vest, it also works very well
when strapped to the back of your desk chair. This is how I've been
using mine, and it works very nicely. The bottom line is that if
you're a speed freak who loves sim racing and you've already invested
big bucks in video cards, driving wheels, and other computer-related
paraphernalia in the pursuit of performance and realism, then you owe
it to yourself to spend a measly $20 on an Aura Interactor. You'll
definitely feel like you're getting your money's worth, and the return
on investment in terms of grins per dollar just can't be beat.
The one downside is that the Aura Interactor is not a "silent Sam"
kind of add-on -- I typically drive using headphones in order to keep
from driving my wife crazy (my gaming computer is in our living room),
and I actually didn't need the headphones while using the Aura
Interactor (the sound wasn't as good as it would have been if I'd been
using both the Aura Interactor and my headphones or speakers, but it
was sufficient for me).
Also, if the sound isn't a problem, you will need to pick up an 8mm
stereo headphone splitter at Radio Shack (or Best Buy, or someplace
similar), because the Interactor plugs into your sound card audio out
line in place of your speakers, so you'll need a splitter to hook both
up. The manual even explains this (with very good hook-up diagrams,
too), but they didn't include a splitter because I think the intended
market was primarily console games, and with a console, the sound
still plays through your TV even with the Interactor connected to the
console's AUX audio output, I believe.
At any rate, the Aura Interactor is one gem that I recommend you treat
yourself to -- it's MUCH cheaper than a Force Feedback wheel, and it
REALLY adds to the experience.
-- John Bodin
Publisher, The IRL Insider Magazine
http://irlinsider.adneweb.com/
On Mon, 21 Jan 2002 15:57:56 -0600, "CLOSEOUTS"
<[email hidden]> wrote:
Quoted text (11 lines)
>we have about 5,000 Aura Virtual Reality units >$20 each plus shipping > >Original retail was $159 > >www.oshealtd.com > > >see reviews on site > >John,
Always the pioneer--I can tell from the Aura Interactor sticking out of yer
back.
But seriously, the best implementation of this thought was the original
ThunderSeat, 10 years ago: a fiberglass racing seat with a 10-inch subwoofer
mounted on a plinth below, firing hearty decibels directly into your, ah,
A-point (as they call it in Detroit). I still have mine (TS, that is), but
long ago modified it by installing a proper Boom Bass unit from Crutchfield,
along with a 14-lb. cross-over, and a pair of satellite speakers from the
latest Creative/Cambridge surround-sound unit to blew up on me (well, the
electronics always burn out; never the speakers). The TS was originally
designed for flight sims (the rattle of an A-10 Warthog's 30mm
depleted-uranium cannon rounds could cure a nasty case of hemmorhoids), but
it works reasonably well with NASCAR's thumpers, and even GPL's sewing
machine engines. Hap Sharp called one of Jim Hall's Chaparrals the "EBJ,"
which I thought was some right-wing-zany reference to Lyndon Johnson. Turns
out he meant the car was an Eye Ball Jiggler. Now I know what he meant.
--Steve Smith
"John Bodin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted text (89 lines)
> GREAT device -- I've got one, and I did a review for The Control > Center if you'd like to know more about it: > > http://www.joy-stick.net/Visitor%20Reviews/visitoreviews.htm > > Here's the text if you're too lazy to click on the URL <G>: > > =================================== > > After seeing a couple of posts on the rec.autos.simulators newsgroup > about the Aura Interactor, I ordered an Aura Interactor for $20 from > O'Shea Ltd. (http://www.oshealtd.com/interact.htm). The Aura > Interactor is a backpack-like sound transducer that is designed to > convert in-game sounds into immersive, bone-jarring vibrations, and > although it's designed for use with consoles, but it's also > PC-compatible. I When it arrived, I promptly hooked it up promptly and > fired up EA's Sports Car GT and I was literally blown away! In some > ways, it may be better than a force feedback wheel -- getting to feel > the engine vibrations (and thumps from shifting and rumbles from the > rumble strips) REALLY enhances the experience. > > In SCGT, I immediately found myself getting "into" the game even more > than usual. Instead of just relying on sound for shift points, it felt > much more like a real in-car experience. Viper Racing turned out to be > slightly less impressive because it features a higher-pitched engine > note that doesn't produce the same kind of rumble that the updated > SCGT sound files create, but it was still VERY immersive. > > Grand Prix Legends was an even bigger surprise -- the engine note > there is what I would consider somewhat high-pitched, but the > sensations felt RIGHT for what I imagine a 1967-era Grand Prix car > would feel like under power (it reminded me quite a bit of what it's > like sitting in the seat of a high- strung, high-revving go-kart at > speed). > > Wearing a jetpack-like contraption on your back while playing video > games might sound a bit silly, but even though the Aura Interactor is > designed to be worn like a backpack or a vest, it also works very well > when strapped to the back of your desk chair. This is how I've been > using mine, and it works very nicely. The bottom line is that if > you're a speed freak who loves sim racing and you've already invested > big bucks in video cards, driving wheels, and other computer-related > paraphernalia in the pursuit of performance and realism, then you owe > it to yourself to spend a measly $20 on an Aura Interactor. You'll > definitely feel like you're getting your money's worth, and the return > on investment in terms of grins per dollar just can't be beat. > > The one downside is that the Aura Interactor is not a "silent Sam" > kind of add-on -- I typically drive using headphones in order to keep > from driving my wife crazy (my gaming computer is in our living room), > and I actually didn't need the headphones while using the Aura > Interactor (the sound wasn't as good as it would have been if I'd been > using both the Aura Interactor and my headphones or speakers, but it > was sufficient for me). > > Also, if the sound isn't a problem, you will need to pick up an 8mm > stereo headphone splitter at Radio Shack (or Best Buy, or someplace > similar), because the Interactor plugs into your sound card audio out > line in place of your speakers, so you'll need a splitter to hook both > up. The manual even explains this (with very good hook-up diagrams, > too), but they didn't include a splitter because I think the intended > market was primarily console games, and with a console, the sound > still plays through your TV even with the Interactor connected to the > console's AUX audio output, I believe. > > At any rate, the Aura Interactor is one gem that I recommend you treat > yourself to -- it's MUCH cheaper than a Force Feedback wheel, and it > REALLY adds to the experience. > > -- John Bodin > Publisher, The IRL Insider Magazine > http://irlinsider.adneweb.com/ > > > On Mon, 21 Jan 2002 15:57:56 -0600, "CLOSEOUTS" > <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >we have about 5,000 Aura Virtual Reality units > >$20 each plus shipping > > > >Original retail was $159 > > > >www.oshealtd.com > > > > > >see reviews on site > > > > >I agree with you, John. I got one about a year ago, and it works as
advertised.
It's interesting that this product was mentioned today..... I just saw a
report on one of the TV news programs about a deaf family. Both parents
and both kids are deaf. They showed their children wearing these devices
while watching TV, so that they can "hear" through feel.
John Bodin wrote:
Quoted text (87 lines)
> GREAT device -- I've got one, and I did a review for The Control > Center if you'd like to know more about it: > > http://www.joy-stick.net/Visitor%20Reviews/visitoreviews.htm > > Here's the text if you're too lazy to click on the URL <G>: > > =================================== > > After seeing a couple of posts on the rec.autos.simulators newsgroup > about the Aura Interactor, I ordered an Aura Interactor for $20 from > O'Shea Ltd. (http://www.oshealtd.com/interact.htm). The Aura > Interactor is a backpack-like sound transducer that is designed to > convert in-game sounds into immersive, bone-jarring vibrations, and > although it's designed for use with consoles, but it's also > PC-compatible. I When it arrived, I promptly hooked it up promptly and > fired up EA's Sports Car GT and I was literally blown away! In some > ways, it may be better than a force feedback wheel -- getting to feel > the engine vibrations (and thumps from shifting and rumbles from the > rumble strips) REALLY enhances the experience. > > In SCGT, I immediately found myself getting "into" the game even more > than usual. Instead of just relying on sound for shift points, it felt > much more like a real in-car experience. Viper Racing turned out to be > slightly less impressive because it features a higher-pitched engine > note that doesn't produce the same kind of rumble that the updated > SCGT sound files create, but it was still VERY immersive. > > Grand Prix Legends was an even bigger surprise -- the engine note > there is what I would consider somewhat high-pitched, but the > sensations felt RIGHT for what I imagine a 1967-era Grand Prix car > would feel like under power (it reminded me quite a bit of what it's > like sitting in the seat of a high- strung, high-revving go-kart at > speed). > > Wearing a jetpack-like contraption on your back while playing video > games might sound a bit silly, but even though the Aura Interactor is > designed to be worn like a backpack or a vest, it also works very well > when strapped to the back of your desk chair. This is how I've been > using mine, and it works very nicely. The bottom line is that if > you're a speed freak who loves sim racing and you've already invested > big bucks in video cards, driving wheels, and other computer-related > paraphernalia in the pursuit of performance and realism, then you owe > it to yourself to spend a measly $20 on an Aura Interactor. You'll > definitely feel like you're getting your money's worth, and the return > on investment in terms of grins per dollar just can't be beat. > > The one downside is that the Aura Interactor is not a "silent Sam" > kind of add-on -- I typically drive using headphones in order to keep > from driving my wife crazy (my gaming computer is in our living room), > and I actually didn't need the headphones while using the Aura > Interactor (the sound wasn't as good as it would have been if I'd been > using both the Aura Interactor and my headphones or speakers, but it > was sufficient for me). > > Also, if the sound isn't a problem, you will need to pick up an 8mm > stereo headphone splitter at Radio Shack (or Best Buy, or someplace > similar), because the Interactor plugs into your sound card audio out > line in place of your speakers, so you'll need a splitter to hook both > up. The manual even explains this (with very good hook-up diagrams, > too), but they didn't include a splitter because I think the intended > market was primarily console games, and with a console, the sound > still plays through your TV even with the Interactor connected to the > console's AUX audio output, I believe. > > At any rate, the Aura Interactor is one gem that I recommend you treat > yourself to -- it's MUCH cheaper than a Force Feedback wheel, and it > REALLY adds to the experience. > > -- John Bodin > Publisher, The IRL Insider Magazine > http://irlinsider.adneweb.com/ > > On Mon, 21 Jan 2002 15:57:56 -0600, "CLOSEOUTS" > <[email hidden]> wrote: > > >we have about 5,000 Aura Virtual Reality units > >$20 each plus shipping > > > >Original retail was $159 > > > >www.oshealtd.com > > > > > >see reviews on site > > > >
Anybody know where I can get the Aura Virtual Reality unit in the UK. I
heard about these before and I e-mailed Oshea Ltd about shipping. It was $40
which seems silly for a $20 unit - albeit a bulky one.
Also there was a similar product Aura rumble fx headphones - anybody have
any more info - particularly regarding UK availability ?
Thanks
