Afference, a company focusing on neural stimulation, has raised $1.5 million in funding to develop its new Phantom platform. The Phantom is a handheld wearable device that wraps around the user’s fingers and wrist, providing haptic feedback in virtual reality environments. Unlike traditional haptic devices, the Phantom uses electrical signals to communicate sensation on the skin to the user’s brain. The funding will be used to enhance the platform and make digital interactions as seamless as physical interactions.
According to Jacob Segil, CEO of Afference, Spatial Computing requires a paradigm shift in the way we interact with digital content. The company aims to create an artificial sensory platform that enables compelling haptic feedback for the Spatial Computing age. Taylor Hurst, principal at Konvoy, the lead investor in the funding round, also highlighted the importance of delivering artificial sensation effectively to end users in order to fulfill the promise of Spatial Computing.
Afference plans to launch development kits of the Phantom in early 2024, allowing developers and users to experience the platform’s unique haptic capabilities. The company’s vision is to revolutionize the way we perceive and interact with virtual reality, making digital experiences more immersive and realistic. Through this funding round, Afference is taking a significant step towards achieving its goal of integrating artificial sensations into the virtual world.