4D hockey broadcasts will hip-check you at home

Watching sports on TV got a whole lot better with the advent of high-definition video. But as good as the action looks, you still cant feel it. Not yet, anyway, but youll be able to soon enough.

The Guitammer Company, based in my home state of Ohio, are working on a more immersive home viewing experience for sports fanatics. Guitammer is the force behind ButtKicker low-frequency transducers, piston-powered devices that turn audio input into physical vibrations. Theyre used in loads of 4D theaters like the ones at Disney, Universal Studios, and perhaps even your local IMAX.

Now, Guitammer has their sights set on pro sports. They recently finished wiring up the San Jose Sharks rink at the SAP Center with a series of 76 impact sensors. The sensors are embedded into the boards that surround the ice surface. Whenever 6-foot-5 defenseman Brent Burns drives some unfortunate opposition forward into the boards, they spring into action.

Guitammer has come up with a way to transmit a signal from those sensors alongside audio and video for a broadcast. Once it hits your home theater, it gets pumped into the ButtKicker attached to your couch or recliner and gives you a satisfying jolt. Its not quite the same as having seats right behind the glass, but theres also much less risk of someone spilling their beer on you (or maybe not, depending on how rowdy you get when watching hockey at home).

The first successful test of Guitammers 4D Sports system happened on Comcast Sportsnet California just over a week ago when the Sharks faced off against the Florida Panthers. Theres really no better place to test a system like this than San Jose, where the boards are slathered with ads from top tech companies.

Im really hoping this catches on. Im a lot more interested in couch-thumping 4D television than I am 3D TV.

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4D hockey broadcasts will hip-check you at home