Nintendo Announces Wii Vitality Sensor Peripheral

Author: by Staff

One of the most unconventional announcements at Nintendo's E3 2009 conference is the Wii Vitality Sensor, a finger-mounted sensor, which likely measures things such as pulse and skin conductance. Although no technical details on the device were revealed -- nor a release date or any games for it -- Nintendo president Satoru Iwata made it an important part of the Nintendo press conference at E3 today. Showing the small white fingertip-interlocking peripheral, apparently designed to be operated alongside the Wiimote, he explained some of the things it might try to work out: "How nervous am I? How focused am I on remembering my script?" Iwatan commented that "these things are normally invisible", but the Vitality Sensor will "have you see the information relating to the inner world of your body." He also mused, as part of the Vitality Sensor's concept, that perhaps "everyone under pressure in our stressful society could use this as a way to relax." This alternative approach to 'game' controllers and the curiously anti-stimulative attitude that it conveys is another attempt from Nintendo to further broaden the market of interactive entertainment. Previous attempts to use a similar sensor in games and relaxation methods have birthed titles such as Journey To Wild Divine, which also attempts to use a biofeedback sensor for game and relaxation-related reasons. [Thanks to Gizmodo for the image.]