High-tech furniture is designed for games, music and movies
Marc Saltzman
Sun
For a mere $ 10,000 the D- Box chair will tilt, raise and vibrate, depending on what’s going on in the movie
It’s not enough that today’s home theatres include a huge high-definition display, surround sound speakers and Internet-connected video game consoles — specialty chairs are now available to help you get even more out of your digital entertainment.
Yes, you haven’t quite experienced Jumper unless you’ve been whipped around during the action sequences, and you can’t fully appreciate Gears of War 2 unless your tush has rumbled while firing at aliens.The following are a few high-tech armchairs and beanbags to help you enjoy your movies, music and video games.
FOR THE MOVIE FANATIC: D-BOX
You’ve heard of the Xbox, but how about the D-Box? Created by the Longueuil, Quebec-based D-Box Technologies Inc., the D-Box Motion Code system lets you feel your favourite flicks from head to toe. These high-end living room armchairs ($10,000 for Screening Room series; d-box.com) are powered with an electromechanical ride system that makes them tilt, raise and vibrate according to what’s happening in the movie. (Also required is a D-Box Motion Controller, for $3,000, which must be installed and hooked up to a Blu-ray disc or DVD player, a TV and the Internet.) Pop in one of the more than 850 supported flicks (and counting) — such as Iron Man, Shrek the Third, The Happening, Casino Royale, 300 and Spider-Man 3 — and the controller reads and syncs the instructions to the D-Box seat so it can move along with the film.
FOR THE MUSIC ENTHUSIAST: IBEANBAG AUDIO BEANBAG CHAIR
Hippie furniture meets the iPod generation with Reffini’s iBeanbag Audio Beanbag Chair (from $179.99, including shipping anywhere in Canada; ibeanbagchair.com). Use the bundled cables to plug into your iPod’s headphone jack (or game system, laptop or stereo), have a seat on the oversized dewdrop beanbag and use the knobs to crank it up to 11. Inside the Montreal-made iBeanbag chair is a 20-watt speaker system with two speakers located at ear level and subwoofer at the rear. The “Blobby” model is ideal for messy types thanks to its resilient nylon material, while the soft faux leather model ($199.99), available in four colours and feels soft to the touch; a matching ottoman can also be purchased with the chair.
FOR THE HARDCORE GAMER: RENEGADE GAME CHAIR
While Nintendo Wii gamers might prefer to stand to get into the action, serious Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC-loving couch potatoes can pick up a geeky specialty gamer’s chair that houses 12 vibrating motors, designed for you to feel every bump and grind in racing games or every shot fired in 3D shooters. Compatible with all major consoles and computers, the grey and black plush Renegade Game Chair ($249.99; ThePlaydium-Store.com) from Ultimate Game Chair, Inc. also includes stereo speakers mounted to the headrest and fun extras such as a huge cup holder (after all, caffeine might be needed for late-night gaming sessions) and coordinated lighting effects that flash while playing. Hey, we said it was geeky.
AND IF THE EYES HAVE HAD IT: VUZIX IWEAR AV920 GLASSES
If you don’t have the room for any of these crazy contraptions, perhaps you’d prefer something a little more intimate?
Don’t risk getting crow’s feet by squinting to see video on your iPod’s teeny screen. Instead, plug in the Vuzix iWear AV920 glasses ($349.99; www.vuzix.com), slip them over your face and lean back to watch a simulated 62-inch display, viewed from 9 feet away.
Film fanatics will likely be impressed by the twin high-resolution (VGA) quality screens and built-in earbuds for audio playback (you can remove them if you prefer your own). OK, so you look a little geeky wearing these on a plane, but it can’t be more painful than sitting through the airline’s showing of Daddy Day Camp. Be sure to check the website for iPod compatibility, but they also work well with other portable media players, portable DVD players, camcorders and gaming consoles.