Every year at CES we come across a ton of gaming chairs, usually filled to the brim with sound and vibration and appearing as though an ottoman mated with a massage pad… but nothing with the quality and technology that these have. D-Box (of Montreal) has created a Motion Code that syncs with the movement of DVD’s, software and video games via proprietary code. Have you ever tried those infamous motion theaters at the amusement park? Well then, get ready because this is undeniably better, and without the loving motion sickness.

Now, how much of a difference does motion make in the video/gaming experience? Well, to showcase this, the D-Box booth offered up a home theater-style demo showing clips with and without motion. Dear friends, once you experience it, there isn’t any going back. And not only does it achieve roll, pitch, and heave but also the vibration is so sensitive and sophisticated that you can feel the textural difference when you drive on pavement, grass, dirt, etc. I can already imagine feeling the tire tread wearing down while playing Gran Turismo 5 or the shots fired at me while I duck around in Gears of War.

There is a premium cost for this new technology. The current game chair goes for over 10 grand, but these concepts were co-developed with automotive supplier Johnson Controls and could be priced as low as $3500. Not a bad price for a product that will change home entertainment and set a new standard.

Check out the video of the chair doing its thang, and then view the hi-quality pix and press release after the jump.

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Now the important stuff, which we designers love to talk about: aesthetics.

There were several concepts they showed, but we’ll focus on two of them: the game chair and the home theater chair.

The game chair’s styling is absolutely sweet! It has more of a sculptural look with a contoured seating surface that is very comfortable and adjustable. The vibrant cloth color was offset nicely with the dark vinyl & coated metals… swanky indeed! The seat will make use of a bolt-on accessory system to give you that cupholder, armrest, or steering wheel that you desire.

The movie chair has a nice modern look. Gone is your Dad’s puffy Lazyboy and in is a high tailored seat with a unique look, especially one that won’t clash with the rest of your couches.

Neither of the two seats are confirmed for production, but the press release says they could be ready within 12 months. With their Motion Coding already on Blu Ray disc, and gaming companies lining up to get the code implemented into their games, this could be the future of home entertainment… the 3rd dimension, baby!

Hi-res pix:

Press Release:

Motion for everyone
D-BOX Technologies and Johnson Controls reveal two seating prototypes of home entertainment D-BOX Motion Code™ Premiere Series systems for home theater and gaming

LAS VEGAS – CES Booth South 1 20659 – January 7, 2007 – Looking for the ultimate addition to your home entertainment system? D-BOX TMTechnologies and Johnson Controls, Inc. have developed two patent-pending seating prototypes of home entertainment D-BOX Motion Code™ Premiere Series systems to be commercialized within the next 12 months. For consumers passionate about state-of-the-art-cinema and gaming at home, D-BOX Motion Code Premiere Series systems will offer intelligent movement at an attractive price point destined to appeal to today’s home entertainment enthusiasts.

These systems will be the initial product offerings in the new D-BOX Motion Code Premiere Series, offering digital lifestyle consumers an enjoyable range of intelligent movement, including pitch, roll, virtual heave and intelligent vibration. While both prototype designs can be used for home theater and gaming, one design will be specifically geared towards a home
theater setting while the other features a hybrid design optimized for gaming and home theater.

The complete design is expected to retail in the US$3,500 range. The new up-coming Premiere Series seats will complement D-BOX’s award-winning Screening Room Series – which represents the ultimate in immersive home entertainment, offering a full range of intelligent movement, including pitch-roll-heave and intelligent vibration.

“These high-technology prototypes will allow D-BOX to offer a wider selection of products to cater to every home entertainment consumer, from the enthusiast to the passionate, and reach an entirely new segment of the market,” said Claude Mc Master, President and Chief Executive Officer, D-BOX Technologies. “As a leading provider of home entertainment motion systems, we are excited to be working with Johnson Controls in developing powerful yet affordable products for today’s digital lifestyle. “

“We are pleased to collaborate with D-BOX,” said Bill Fluharty, vice president of Global Discovery and Research for Johnson Controls. “The joint development of the Entertainment Seats provides both companies with the opportunity to deliver an exciting product that combines Johnson Controls’ design ingenuity, global manufacturing capabilities, and infrastructure in seating with D-Box’s exciting Motion Code technology,”

Johnson Controls is a global industry leader in the design, development, engineering and production of automotive seating and interior products. It supplies products for major automakers throughout the world.

About D-BOX

D-BOX Technologies designs and manufactures high-technology motion systems destined mainly for the entertainment industry. Its unique, patented technology uses motion codes specifically programmed for each film, TV program or video game, resulting in motion that is perfectly synchronised with on-screen action. By forming strong industry alliances, DBOX’s award-winning motion technology is creating a global standard in the entertainment world. For more information, please visit www.d-box.com.

D-BOX, D-BOX MOTION CODE are registered trademarks of D-BOX Technologies Inc.

About Johnson Controls, Inc.

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included herein, including those that express management’s expectations or estimates of our future performance, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. We caution that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risks that may cause our actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from our estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, our ability to achieve increased market acceptance for our product offerings and penetrate new markets; the existence of undetected errors or similar problems in our products; our ability to manage our growth; our ability to compete successfully; potential liabilities; maintaining our intellectual property rights and litigation involving intellectual property rights; our dependence on the expertise of our key personnel; and our access to sufficient capital to fund our future requirements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to D-BOX or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Risks and uncertainties about our business are more fully discussed in our Annual Report.

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information:
Nathalie Bergeron
High Road Communications for D-BOX Technologies
514.916.7782
nbergeron [at] highroad.com
Debra Lacey
Johnson Controls, Inc.
734.254.5735
debra.l.lacey [at] jci.com