Enhancing the Virtual Reality experience


[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.


Comments (13)

Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

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.
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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.
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no twitter posts please, its just more site to read everyday, but if you update both twitter and the site thats cool. twitter only contests sound good
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Nice interview, and I love the origin story of the name, Neatorama. The mention of guest bloggers who have come and gone made me think: "Alas, poor Yayo. I knew him well."
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if your Twitter feed is just the same as the site, I'll stick with the site. If there is something more on Twitter - comments, links that didn't quite make it, etc., I'll be all over it.
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I'm leaning toward Twitter-only content - it doesn't make much sense to me just to run the feed through Twitter, though that has been the way it was set-up before we got the account officially.

I think a combo of Twitter-only content and Neatorama exclusives/particularly good posts is the way to go.
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I think neatorama is best in its current format. I am always eager to look at the latest posts every day, or a few times a day. That said, I don't want to have to look in two places. Please don't post exclusives on twitter. I can see how a time dependent contest would be well served by twitter, but other than that, I don't see much of a point.

To be fair, I dislike twitter very much. I'm all for technological progress, being 22 and all, but there are various things about twitter that rub me the wrong way.
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Ahhh ya lost me on the Twit er.

It's a banal and ignorant place to be. More a flame game than the old yahoo chat rooms. Really alex, please reconsider. Twitter is for twats.
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