It seems like we’re always being shown a new way to control our PCs, whether it’s VR, a new controller, or just a keyboard that claims to have found the best way to type. PC peripherals come in all sorts of different designs, and some of them that are trying to innovate or stand out can end looking pretty strange. These eight peripherals are shining examples of that.
Don’t see your favorite weird peripheral? Tell us what it is in the comments!
3RD Space Gaming Vest
Video games are mostly escapist exercises – things we do to experience things we can’t (or won’t) do in real life. That’s why the 3RD Space Gaming Vest seems so odd to me. It lets you “Sense the direction and force of bullet fire, explosions, and environmental effects,” thanks to the magic of compressed air. You’ll feel every impact, just like you were really getting shot! Of course, it only works with games the company has released drivers for, but if you want to really feel your FPS games, this one is for you.
Shogun Bros. Chameleon X-1
If you’re tired of trying to keep up with a mouse, a game controller, and a multimedia remote control for your PC, the folks at Shogun Bros. have you covered. The Chameleon X-1 is all of those devices in one. It looks like a mouse, but you can flip it over to find a game controller built into the bottom, and it also works as a remote control. It’s wireless, and will work with Android, Mac, PC, and PS3. Or you could just use the devices you already have.
Peregrine Glove
The Nintendo Power Glove is so 1989. Today’s tech needs a new glove, like the Peregrine. Instead of buttons on the wrist, the Peregrine has sensor points on each finger that can be bound to keys, allowing you to play games just by tapping your fingers together. The glove is hand washable, breathable, and yeah, still kinda weird.
SafeType Ergonomic Keyboard
Ergonomics is a big deal, especially if you spend a lot of time at your computer. There have been a number of keyboards that have tried to improve on the ergonomics of typing, but none of them have looked like the SafeType Ergonomic Keyboard. It cuts the keyboard in half, and then puts each half in a vertical orientation. I Know what you’re thinking: “How do I see the keys?” It’s simple, really. There’s a rear-view mirror on each side so you can see the keys you’re typing with. You can also see your friends creeping up behind you.
OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator
The OCZ Neural Impulse Actuator was designed to let you do the one thing you’ve always wanted to do: control video games WITH YOUR MIND. OK, not exactly with your mind. The device actually reads muscle movements in your face, instead of smashing the space bar to jump, you could simply raise an eyebrow. The device actually worked fairly well, if the reviews can be believed. Unfortunately, the novelty of the thing never caught on, and it was discontinued.
Titans Sphere
Toward the end of the 1990s, PC gaming was exploding in popularity. As such, the PC peripherals market kind of blew up as well. Enter the Titans Sphere, an alternative control device that was basically a regular gamepad cut in half, with each of the two sides attached to a cylinder-shaped center housing. It featured programmable buttons, six degrees of direction freedom, and a programmable point of view hat switch. Unfortunately, it was up against one of the all-time great controllers – the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback – and it didn’t survive the battle.
RailDriver
If you can’t get enough Train Simulator, then the RailDriver is designed especially for you. In short, the RailDriver is a controller that offers 34 programmable buttons, four levers, and an LED readout that displays the speed of your train. It’s probably the closest any of us will get to actually driving a train, but the $199.95 price tag means that only the most hardcore will shell out for this one.
Alphagrip iGrip
You’ve heard the old saying that “Less is more,” but the people at AlphaGrip apparently haven’t. Their iGrip Ergonomic Keyboard is festooned with buttons – 40 of them, to be precise. It also offers a trackball on the front. The device is supposed to feel like a controller, but function like a keyboard and mouse. The company also claims that you can type “50+ words a minute” using the device. In reality, it’s a $130 piece of hardware that looks like someone smashed a bunch of gamepads together to make one.
