I don’t feel like writing about cryotherapy again today. This topic is way cooler. I’ll warm up to that topic another day.

So what is a synesthesia suit? It’s a full body light-weight suit that creates vibro-tactile stimulation. It takes VR to the next level with an incredible sensory experience of the chosen media, a music video in this case.

The suit I try is a part of the Crystal Vibes project showcased at New Frontiers at Sundance Film Festival. Benjamin Outram, the master of this project, has traveled all the way from Tokyo to exhibit his work.

As I suit up, Outram explains how Crystal Vibes uses the full-body Synesthesia Suit’s vibro-tactile stimulation in conjunction with sound visualization (that maps sound and light based on the science of the human senses) to create a sensory experience in virtual reality.

After the last strap is velcroed around my boots, I’m passed a VR headset, headphones, and two controllers, one for each hand. The controllers appear in the music video-scape and provide a better spacial sense of where I am. Yes, I do get the sense I I don’t feel like writing about cryotherapy again today. This topic is way cooler. I’ll warm up to that topic another day.

So what is a synesthesia suit? It’s a full body light-weight suit that creates vibro-tactile stimulation. It takes VR to the next level with an incredible sensory experience of the chosen media, a music video in this case.

The suit I try is a part of the Crystal Vibes project showcased at New Frontiers at Sundance Film Festival. Benjamin Outram, the master of this project, has traveled all the way from Tokyo to exhibit his work.

As I suit up, Outram explains how Crystal Vibes uses the full-body Synesthesia Suit’s vibro-tactile stimulation in conjunction with sound visualization (that maps sound and light based on the science of the human senses) to create a sensory experience in virtual reality.

After the last strap is velcroed around my boots, I’m passed a VR headset, headphones, and two controllers, one for each hand. The controllers appear in the music video-scape and provide a better spacial sense of where I am. Yes, I do get the sense I am actually in the music video-scape.am actually in the music video-scape.

When the music video begins, I feel the vibration of the sound waves through the Synesthesia Suit. I experience the music though sound wave vibration.

Essentially, Crystal Vibes asks the question, if a sound spectrum was actually a light spectrum, what color would that appear to the human eye? So the music video is a visualization of the sound waves of the music. This is a completely new concept to absorb, and an incredible sensory experience.

A few minutes later the video is over and the Synesthesia Suit is quickly and easily removed by unstrapping the velcro that holds it in place. Genius, because it’s adjustable to all shapes and sizes for a variety of users. Overall what do I take away? I must say the experience of Crystal Vibes really accentuates the reality aspect of virtual reality.

I chat with Outram briefly about other applications of the suit. It was designed for the new release of the classic Rez Infinite, which is now available on PlayStation 4 and PSVR. Crystal Vibes was a collaboration with the team behind the Synesthesia Suit, and is just one of the many unique ways it can be used.

What are other applications you can think of? I mention it would be neat to have a blanket that vibrates with the sound of music to help me fall asleep. No VR necessary in this case. I just about always fall asleep in the car on long road trips, the steady vibration of the engine is calming. I also listen to the radio to distract my mind from wandering before bed. So a blanket that vibrates to the sound of some relaxing playlist like waves, or rain, would be perfect.

Does someone want to make this blanket for me? 😀