Razer is pushing the boundaries of gaming innovation with a number of exciting new announcements at CES 2023, and one of them is Project Carol, a concept design that is said to be the world’s first head cushion with near-field surround sound and high-fidelity haptics, making it a one-of-a-kind gaming chair accessory.
According to a landing page for Project Carol, the concept product supports up to 7.1 near-field surround sound without the need for cable clutter and is complemented by high-fidelity tactile feedback powered by Razer’s Hypersense technology, enabling lifelike vibrations in real-time.
A seamless 2.4 GHz wireless design, up to eight hours of battery life, and stretchy, adjustable straps that can be fully extended (un-stretched) to 350 and 310 mm round off Project Carol’s highlights.
From a Razer press release:
Project Carol takes immersion and realism to new heights with its clever use of near-field surround sound for clear, pure audio, paired with 7.1 surround sound for a captivating gaming experience. Unlike traditional speakers, Project Carol’s near-field surround sound provides closer, more direct rear audio, giving a more enveloping soundscape. Project Carol is powered by the award-wining Razer HyperSense technology. The cushion converts game sounds into haptic feedback in real-time, allowing gamers to feel everything behind them, placing them firmly in the middle of the action.
Project Carol is natively supported on PC, and designed to fit with all gaming chairs, including Razer’s popular Iskur and Enki lines, via elastic, adjustable straps. Once connected via 2.4 GHz wireless, Project Carol provides up to 8 hours of gaming before needing charging.
Razer hasn’t confirmed whether Project Carol will be sold to consumers yet, being a concept product, but the company has had a pretty good history of bringing its more radical ideas to market thus far, including items the Zephyr Wearable Air Purifier.
Razer’s other CES 2023 announcements include Razer Edge and Razer Edge 5G, new gaming handhelds with AMOLED displays, and the Razer Blade 16 laptop, which the company says is configurable with the world’s first 16-inch HDR-capable dual-mode mini-LED display.