Haptic Vests

On Friday night I had my first experience using a haptic vest at a concert. Wow. What an experience.

For those wondering, a haptic vest is connected to the speaker system of the events through bluetooth or wi-fi. The signals get sent to the vest and you buzz and vibrate in time with the beats coming out of the speakers.

Sci-fi!?

I’d booked my vest online and collected it from the box office – nerves buzzing. I opted out of the headset (for obvious reasons) but loved that it was available. These can be used for people who have residual hearing, or hearing people using this tech.

I was fitted with the vest and shown how to adjust the intensity of the vibrations.

The collection point for the vests. They are hanging up on a rack, with headsets. People are preparing them for use.

Off I marched into the open‑air, disused industrial power station that towers over the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan in East Perth.

Hannah wearing her vest. The haptic vibrations are controlled through the circular switch on her chest. There are bright green lights around the vest.

The beats emanating from the decks pulsed through my body, letting me bop along in time with the crowd. The superb light show that accompanied the set added another layer to the hypnotic experience.

I felt completely enveloped in music, without hearing a sound. It was surreal in the best possible way. I hadn’t anticipated just how positive the experience would be.

Inside the concert, with the light show casting onto the walls. The beats and haptics pulsed in unison with it.

I saw a young man with his father. The younger seemed to have a neurological condition - perhaps Cerebral Palsy - and was shaking and shuddering outside the venue. People saw and tried not to stare (some unsuccessfully).

I spotted them again inside the concert and the fast, electronic music had everyone shaking and shuddering along. The two men stood side by side, in complete anonymity as they relaxed into the ‘norm’.

I found it beautiful that both of us were experiencing a moment like the rest of the crowd. Just for a little bit.

Suffice to say, I’ll be attending any future concerts that offer haptic vests. And please — if you’re organising an event — consider adding this as an accessibility option. It helps so many people experience the show.