Patent ID: 8550905

Claim:
A controller for interfacing with an interactive program, comprising: an outer surface, the outer surface including a plurality of first surface regions and one or more second surface regions, the one or more second surface regions arranged in an alternating and adjacent fashion with the plurality of first surface regions; at least one heating source coupled to the plurality of first surface regions; at least one cooling source coupled to the one or more second surface regions; and a thermal controller for determining when to activate the at least one heating source to heat the plurality of first surface regions and when to activate the at least one cooling source to cool the one or more second surface regions, based on thermal trigger data generated by the interactive program; wherein the outer surface is defined on a portion of the controller to be contacted by skin of a user when holding the controller; wherein simultaneous activation of the at least one heating source and the at least one cooling source produces a thermal grill illusion when the portion of the controller is held by the user.