Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Inventing Future Technologies Inc. (IFTech) is a start-up from Oshawa, Ontario currently working on productdevelopment for a haptic feedback vest system for gaming and simulation training industries. The vest systemincorporates a number of devices to provide vibration, pressure and resistance feedback for users, adding a newlevel of immersion beyond the standard audio and visual content of simulations. This wearable technology willenhance the realism of simulations, and will provide game developers with new hardware options to considerin the design phase of new gaming products.To date, IFTech's founders Michael and Brodie Stanfield have created a proof-of-concept model of the vest thatdemonstrates how the devices can be integrated with clothing, and that the vest can be made to be compatiblewith console gaming systems. Their team has also built an online community, which has become engaged inthe development of the product and concept development for possible applications. Besides casual gamers(consumers), game designers, production companies and the Canadian military have expressed interest in theproduct. IFTech has been engaged with Durham College to carry out design and testing of the vest electronics,and to refine power and control systems.At this stage, IFTech requires garment design and prototyping support to compliment ongoing research on theelectronic system and hardware/device selection being conducted at Durham College. The George Brownproject would engage a team of students from the School of Fashion Studies to research materials that meet theconstraints imposed by electronic and wireless control integration, as well as produce new garment designsbased on existing conceptual drawings and material constraints. The George Brown team will then work toproduce a first iteration of the prototype, in order to provide IFtech with manufacturing specifications from