Enhancing the Virtual Reality experience

By Queuebot in Gadgets, Hacks & Mods, Science & Tech, Video Clips on Feb 28, 2009 at 1:49 pm

[YouTube - Link]

University of Tsukuba researchers in Japan have developed a device that is designed to enhance the Virtual Reality experience by simulating motion in a static environment:

"One of the big problems facing VR is the issue of mobility — how do you allow users unrestricted movement in virtual reality, while keeping them relatively static in real reality?

Omni-directional treadmills have been tried in the past, and now researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan have developed something called CirculaFloor. The system uses four robotic tiles that constantly shift position, ensuring that there’s always a tile in the direction you’re headed.

Additionally, the entire assembly moves slowly backwards, giving one the impression of movement while they’re actually standing relatively still. The tiles also incorporate lifts, for simulating staircases and the like."

– via engadget

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Geekazoid.

Tags: virtual reality

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just a guy
Feb 28th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
This is a bad idea for SO many reasons. How could they not see the flaws.

For instance, people don’t walk that slow with little tiny baby steps. You’d practiaclly have to be watching your feet in ‘reality’ to make sure you aren’t going to fast, which defeats the purpose.

In a mass distributed scenario (far off, I know), I garuntee people will injure themselves.
Wes
Feb 28th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Unless, of course, time doesn’t stand still and they continue to improve on the idea to make it faster and more responsive.
VonSkippy
Feb 28th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
No matter how much “better” it gets, having the platform move around the human is just a bad idea.

They’d be better off to have a fixed (i.e. non-moving) platform and put the robotics and mult-directional wheels into shoes the human wears (or probably big clunky wired boots for the first few designs).

By controlling the direction, speed, and/or friction of each wheel, they would be able to do the same thing as the moving platform.

Tilt/raise/lower the stationary platform (and add the corresponding friction/movement to the correct wheels) and you could simulate going up or down a hill.
Bonehead108
Feb 28th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Imagine playing Super Mario Bros on this thing.
Josh
Feb 28th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
This reminds me of a level called Reconstruct in UT2004 that came in CBP2 where the floor is not there but as you get closer the floor forms from a bunch of small rocks right in front of you. When in the middle you only have a circle of rocks around you.

If they can manage to get it as fast as it was in the game I see no reason running or any movement would be too fast for it. It will only take time to tweak it more and more.
SenorMysterioso
Mar 1st, 2009 at 3:03 am
why not just have a large ball to move on
just a guy
Mar 1st, 2009 at 3:07 am
What about having it on carpets? or what if you fall over from poor balance – will the other tiles whack into you? What about having a pet dart by?
Ray
Mar 1st, 2009 at 6:46 am
I like the Roman numerals – very retro! But a stupid idea, however clever mechanically.
Viola
Mar 1st, 2009 at 8:41 am
Bad idea. Cool, but not marketable.
I C Kook
Mar 1st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
That’s Kooky. Totally Kooky, I tell ya!
Zach
Mar 1st, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Reminds me of X-Men when Magneto walks across tiles of metal…

As somebody else said, putting the VR user in a giant hamster ball that rolls in place is almost certainly a better idea…. the only problem being a lack of height differential.
renderanything
Mar 1st, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Interesting technology, but there are better ideas out there.
I’ve personally test-driven a system that used roller skate like devices strapped to the feet and a stabilization/directional bar. As you walked, the roller skatey things on your feet sensed when your foot was on the ground and motors inside them moved your foot backward a pre determined distance. After only a minute of acclimatisation I was roaming freely in a virtual neighborhood, navigating turns and moving along at a pretty good speed.
My favorite idea so far though has to be the fixed platform whose surface is omnidirectional. Lots of sensors and reaction mechanisms for that design though.
comment
Apr 27th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
this is pretty cool, the people walking walk slower than they do in reality

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