# Couch-Rattling Hockey Gadgets The Buttkicker Enables Hockey Fans to Feel Board Impacts By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2014-12-08 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/buttkicker References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/buttkicker-san-jose-sharks/35086/) & [spectrum.ieee.org](http://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/consumer-electronics/audiovideo/san-jose-sharks-shake-your-booty) Buttkicker is a ridiculous-sounding and strangely enticing '4D Sports' system that enables hockey fans to experience the [tactile pleasure of watching games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/woojer-mat) from front-row seats and seeing players crashing into the boards right in front of you. Developed by the [San Jose Sharks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nhl-27), [Comcast SportsNet](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xfinity-multiview) California and The Guitammer Company, the Buttkicker uses a series of sensors installed on the boards at the SAP Center where the Sharks play their home games. When sensors detect a heavy impact, they send a signal to Comcast's game broadcast, which then relays those signals to viewers' $300 Buttkicker kits. The kit's transducer is placed under viewers' couches' legs. As a result, every harsh impact on the board leads to your couch shaking, helping you truly feel like you're there witnessing the action in person. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 25% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Sports](https://www.trendhunter.com/sports) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **4D Sports Gadgets:** The emergence of 4D sports systems enable fans to experience the game as if they were physically present. - **Smart Sport Sensors:** The development of smart sport sensors and the internet of things (IoT) creates opportunities for real-time, immersive sports experiences for viewers. - **Tactile Viewer Enhancements:** Incorporating tactile enhancements for viewing experiences can offer a new level of immersion for sports fans. ### Who This Affects Most - **Sports Technology:** Companies that specialize in sports technology can develop and market new systems to create more immersive experiences for fans watching games from home. - **Broadcasting:** Broadcasters can explore integrating sensory technology to enhance sports viewing experiences and attract more viewers to their platforms. - **Home Entertainment:** Manufacturers of home entertainment systems can incorporate sensory technology into their products to create an immersive viewing experience and compete with traditional sports experience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Haptic Feedback Gaming Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cooler-master-synk-x.md) - [Musician-Friendly Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/throne-x.md) - [Responsive Gamer Chair Cushions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haptic-gaming-cushion.md) - [Haptic Gamer Chair Cushions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/razer-project-esther.md) - [Game-Connected Desk Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/razer-enki-pro-hypersense.md) - [Immersive Haptic Gaming Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/razer-project-madison.md) - [Active Wearable Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/active-wearable-tech.md) - [Vibrational Gamer Belts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/haptic-audio-wearable.md) - [Immersive Audio-Equipped Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nemesis-2.md)