Meta Called Out For Designing ‘Substantively Identical’ Gloves To Startup’s Own
Image via Reality Labs Research
Earlier this week, Meta unveiled it was working on haptic gloves that would allow users to “touch” the metaverse. Not only will the gloves track one’s hand movements, but they would also be able to reproduce “a range of complex, nuanced sensations,” such as pressure, texture, and vibration.
However, a Seattle-based startup is now claiming that Meta’s gloves appear “substantively identical” to the technology it has been working on since 2012. The company, named HaptX, said it pioneered haptic gloves with microfluidic feedback technology, allowing users to engage with virtual reality and robotics, similar to how it was described for the metaverse.
According to GeekWire, HaptX founder Jake Rubin said the core components of Meta’s prototype, including a silicone-based microfluidic tactile feedback laminate and pneumatic control architecture, were akin to the company’s developments. Plus, the social media giant had made the claim that it was “developing the world’s first high-speed microfluidic processor,” which may not be entirely true.
In a blog post detailing the prototype gloves, Sean Keller, part of Meta’s Reality Labs Research, said that it was “creating almost everything about this discipline from scratch.” He went on to note that the brand was “inventing entirely new soft materials and manufacturing technologies,” and the new invention was “a clean break from the past.”
In a statement released by HaptX, Rubin revealed that its pioneering technology had been widely covered by major press outlets in the past, and is protected by an industry-leading patent portfolio. Additionally, over the years, the company hosted many Meta executives to demonstrate the technology.
“We welcome interest and competition in the field of microfluidic haptics; however, competition must be fair for the industry to thrive,” said Rubin.
“While we have not yet heard from Meta, we look forward to working with them to reach a fair and equitable arrangement that addresses our concerns, and enables them to incorporate our innovative technology into their future consumer products.”
[via GeekWire, cover image via Reality Labs Research]
Also check out these recent news
