Using your Body in the Virtual World: VR Platforms & Treadmills

As virtual reality headsets are becoming more common in the gaming industry, one can safely say that VR support in future games will become a common thing. This gives companies developing technologies that support interactive and immersive experiences in the Virtual World an opportunity to come up with interesting products and gadgets for the people. While virtual gloves are already helping people interact with and feel virtual objects, people are increasingly feeling the need moving about in the virtual world just like they do in the real world. Thankfully technology companies have come up with very interesting answers to this and have developed a number of VR treadmills and platforms that allow people to walk, run, jump, sit, and even fly in the virtual world.

These treadmills provide a new level of immersion to the virtual reality. With them, people are able to move about in the virtual world while remaining safe in a confined area/platform. This, coupled with the VR gloves will allow people to enjoy a level of immersion they have never experienced before. But there is more to that! There are platforms that allow people to feel like they are actually driving a car or fighting battles in the sky/outer space or even flying like Superman in the virtual world. It will be an endless adventure and fun within the confines and safety of your living room. Sounds good? Let’s take a look at the VR treadmills and Virtual Reality motion simulators that are designed to transform you VR experiences for good.

Feel Three: Virtual Reality Motion Simulator

This is a virtual reality simulator that allows you to feel like you are fighting aliens in outer space. Sitting on this simulator will be like entering your own battle station and you will feel every turn, twist and thrill of fighting in the sky. This amazing device is modular and you can attach panels, motors or even cockpits to drive cars, fly planes and even race bikes in the virtual world. Featuring 80+ game support and compatibility with every major VR headset in the market the device goes on to even offer classic game and “Motion Movie” mode. With 110 backers, the company has already received £181,440 while its initial pledge goal was £50,000 on Kickstarter. It’s a strong product and that’s why it has found a place in our list.

Birdly

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s you flying like a bird in the virtual world with this amazing platform called Birdly. Imagine the feeling or sprouting your own wings and flying over the city, between the sky-scrapers and over the sea while experiencing the rush of the wind on your face. Sounds exciting doesn’t it? This is precisely what this amazing device offers you. Realizing man’s ultimate dream of flying like a bird, this VR platform allows people to enjoy the exact experience in the virtual world. Unlike any other flight simulator featuring a joystick or numerous buttons, Birdly works with the movement of your entire body and brings VR flight experience that goes with your instinctive movements of arms and hands when you fly. The movements are correlated to the flapping of wings of a bird and are enhanced so you can control your altitude, speed and direction while flying. This device features a precise sensory-motor, headwind simulation, visual impact and 3D audio.

Virtuix Omni

Compatible with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive these huge treadmills allow you to move freely and at full speed the virtual world. It is safe and easy to use. Unique sensors in this device allow people to duck, sit, and jump in the virtual world. Omni comes with numerous accessories and plug-in apparatuses for some extra charges. This product is available in the market and can be shipped to your location on request. While placing an order, you will need to specify the size of your feet as it comes with special shoes that work with the entire rig. These special shoes keep your foot stabilized and prevent lateral sliding.

Cyberith Virtualizer

This VR platform comes with a less bulky podium and the motion sensors in this device trace your steps. Actions such as bowing can be carried out by leaning on one lap which reduces risk of hurting yourself with the encompassing ring. The entire rig is more moveable compared to Omni and this makes it more attractive to most people. Cyberith Virtualizer is also compatible with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. The device working technique is based on gliding which allows people to climb stairs in VR while simply walking on the platform in the real world. Also you don’t need any special shoes with this device. The Virtualizer is used by development departments, universities, research institutions, VR training centers and arcades.

Spacewalker VR

This is the contribution of a Turkish technological corporation called SpaceWalkerVR. It is a 360-degree treadmill for VR applications and features a spinning treadmill supported by a gyroscope that has the capacity of understanding the user’s actions. There are weight sensors underneath the platform that sense differences in foot pressure to control its power feedback. Interestingly, this device can also be used just like a normal treadmill for aptness training. SpaceWalkerVR is currently in the prototyping phase and is expected to be compatible with Oculus Rift.

KatWalk

This platform is quite similar to the Omni, but with one key difference. It is the absence of the belt or ring around that goes around the user’ waist. Since the ring was reportedly causing problems to users as they kept hitting hands on it while drawing swords or holstering guns in VR. The upper end of this rig is particularly interesting is it keeps the user in place by a slim fit belt. Also the procedure of walking in KatWalk does not have a gliding effect which gives a more real life and immersive experience in the VR. The rig offers automatic interaction with the surface through special shoes. It is the closest thing to the tech we saw the protagonist using in Ready Player One.

Infinadeck

This device works on the idea of the original treadmill and features a driven omnidirectional treadmill that initiates the player in any preferable direction. Unlike the Virtuix Omni, which is basically a stationary platform, the Infinadeck works through a square set of corresponding mini-treadmills. This allows it to easily cope with walking and running actions with any virtual reality concept. While the users are walking in this treadmill, it automatically brings the user in its center in order to prevent him from walking or jumping off the platform. On the overall, it is far bulkier than all the other treadmills we have discussed in this article.

In order to perfectly enjoy the experiences in the virtual world, one need to walk, run, sit and lie down in the virtual world without pressing any buttons that does the action for them. We believe such technological advancements in VR devices will definitely allow people to fully enjoy the experiences that we intend to offer in CosmosCR which is a blockchain powered virtual universe with endless possibilities and no limitations when it comes to developing VR experiences.

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