WEART is an Italian-based company specialized in hardware and software haptic solutions adding lifelike touch feelings in digital and XR experiences.
Interview with Guido Gioioso, CEO & Co-Founder of WEART.
What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Guido Gioioso: WEART’s solutions are currently adopted mainly for industrial and medical training in VR, virtual prototyping, telerobotics and research, and entertainment. We mainly work with oil gas industry, manufacturing, research centers and content developers.
What’s the news about new products/services?
G.G: Last June 2024, we have introduced the new TouchDIVER Pro gloves, now featuring six actuation points, including all five fingers and the palm, and current WEART’s unique multimodal haptic feedback, which provides lifelike force feedback, textures rendering and thermal cues. Developed from extensive customer feedback and market analysis carried out since 2021, the TouchDIVER Pro glove is tailored for professionals in XR training, virtual prototyping, teleoperations, immersive marketing experiences seeking natural and realistic manipulation with virtual and digital objects.
What are the ranges of products/services?
G.G: WEART manufactures and sells easy-to-use hardware and software haptic solutions that unlock the effective use of virtual simulations and augment digital content.
The flagship product – TouchDIVER – is a wearable haptic glove replicating tactile sensations in digital and virtual reality content. With its advanced technology, TouchDIVER is the only device on the market providing full haptic feedback, enabling users to feel every texture, force, and thermal cues they encounter in the virtual world. We also provide consulting services to support customers to effectively integrate our haptic technology into new or existing VR projects.
What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
G.G: According to IDTechEx’s latest report, “Haptics 2025-2035: Technologies, Markets, Players,” the capabilities of haptic feedback technologies have significantly advanced beyond simply adding vibrations to game controllers or discreet alerts to mobile phones. The report forecasts the haptics technology market to reach USD 7.1 billion by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% from 2024 to 2035. This growth is expected to be primarily driven by the increasing use of haptics in emerging sectors, particularly in vehicle interiors, and higher spending on haptic components per device as manufacturers aim to enhance response quality and add more actuation points across various segments.
What can you tell us about market trends?
G.G: In the last few years, we have observed a growing demand for haptic technology, especially from companies involved in training, as it offers a means to enhance realism and help end users improve their skills on field.
According to IDTechEx’s latest report, “Haptics 2025-2035: Technologies, Markets, Players, in terms of haptic innovation, the VR accessory market is important due to the development of advanced haptic wearables. Innovation in activator design and the use of more activators per device to increase the level of feedback or replace more functions are key factors behind the overall trend of increased spending on haptics per relevant device. These are trends that arguably began in this market sector but are expected to spread more widely over the coming decade.
What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
G.G: All our products are built on our proprietary haptic technology, which integrates force feedback, texture rendering, and thermal cues. For force feedback, we employ what’s known as cutaneous force feedback. This means our gloves are cable-free, allowing users to interact with virtual objects without obstruction. The design focuses on being lightweight, prioritizing comfort, wearability, and ease of use.
We also manufacture special hardware projects that require no VR setups, like Haptic Totems and Multisensory Stations. Haptic Totems are haptic plates designed to augment on-screen digital experiences with tactile sensations that are synchronized with images and sound. They are currently used in immersive installations, events, and branded spaces.
On the other hand, TouchKEY+ Multisensory Station is in innovative multisensory and immersive solution enabling visually impaired visitors to touch and experience digitized 3D replicas of artworks, featuring TouchKEY+ haptic device. This solution has been awarded during AWE 2024 as “Best Societal Impact” project.
What estimations do you have for the rest of 2024?
G.G: For the rest of 2024, we’re optimistic about the impact of our new line of haptic gloves, the TouchDIVER Pro, which is tailored to meet the demands of XR departments and professionals seeking deeper immersion. Building on customer feedback and market analysis since 2021, we’ve designed the TouchDIVER Pro to serve sectors such as XR training, virtual prototyping, teleoperations, and immersive marketing. These industries are increasingly recognizing the value of haptic technology in enhancing their applications, and we expect continued growth and adoption in these areas.