Comments on: Is Virtual Reality… Virtually a Reality?

By: MartinMcFly

MartinMcFly — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 22:51:07 +0000

Did you not see the photo of the omni-directional treadmill? Just a matter of time before such a thing is advanced with gimbals and axis controls that could accurately simulate hills, surface movement like what you would experience on watercraft/spacecraft, etc. Things like picking up a rock you find on the ground aren’t likely to be possible in the next few decades, but it’s just a matter of time until somebody figures something out

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:44:15 +0000

I know this thread is a bit old and perhaps no one is reading it anymore but I just wanted to post this artical that I found on new technology coming out this spring. Makes you think..are we even going to have to move our body to use VR, and typing isn’t going to be useful for long with the new programs that writing what we speak. Here is a link to what I just read. http://www.pcworld.com/article/191685/neuroskys_headset_senses_brain_waves_lets_you_control_games_with_your_mind.html

By: Bryce

Bryce — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:14:14 +0000

Unfortunately the optics that go into HMDs are too expensive (presently) to make it economical to support the consumer market. I agree with David, the Z800 is currently the best bang for your buck (and comes with a built in sensor).

By: David

David — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:10:50 +0000

Good comments Steven. You’ll be pleased to know that good visors do exist, of which the Emagin Z800 may be the best at present for the domestic market, and Wizdish deals with the locomotion aspect. So VR will get far better in a year or two.

By: Steven Shepherd

Steven Shepherd — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:41:55 +0000

Yea, it’s a great video, but the funny thing is, if you go on his website (johnnylee.net), he has actually been snapped up by Microsoft and is working with Natal! Boy, did Nintendo miss an opportunity there!

By: Chris Graham

Chris Graham — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:32:08 +0000

If only it were the case that “star trek” style virtual reality was just round the corner. but as you say I think it’s as close as “Zefram Cochrane’s wrap drive” however I have seen that Microsoft are experimenting with Infrared with their “touch table.” they set up a couple of receivers around the room and it detects any Microsoft phone, pda ect. In the room.

So what if they combined the tech from the vid that Ste posted (first time I’ve seen it and its great) and Microsoft’s own.

for example 5 Infrared sender attached to a hat (front, back, left, right & top) then 5 Infrared receivers (all 4 walls & ceiling. so it could detect which way you were facing in the room and then maybe some slipper that had pressure pads so you could walk on the spot or run…… as for avoiding objects I couldn’t say….

This is my idea so if it happens I want royalties.

By: Steven Shepherd

Steven Shepherd — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:36:16 +0000

Oh and Josh, is this the video you mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3-eiid-Uw

By: Steven Shepherd

Steven Shepherd — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:34:07 +0000

Yea, physically walking would be difficult and I don’t think we’ll be seeing these omnidirectional treadmills at home any time soon!

I think the next step would be a helmet/visor that actually works and turns when your head turns.

This could be combined with pads for moving within the game. In terms of feeling physical objects, there are gloves that have sensors in them, which make it feel as if the object is in your hand, but again we’re a long way from home versions.

Now they just have to start working on the smells, haha!

By: Josh Quinnett

Josh Quinnett — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:31:03 +0000

I still wish head tracking received more attention than motion controls. Anyone remember that video of the guy who used Wii technology to make a head tracking tech demo? Amazing stuff.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:33:55 +0000

Motion controls ARE the new virtual reality, only, unfortunately, it seems to be sticking around longer. Or maybe not necessarily longer, but it’s being taken a little more seriously.

Either way, I still don’t see it being useful beyond novelty games.

Btw, great site. Been reading the past few weeks and I enjoy the focus on actual discussion and real content. Keep it up.

By: Austin_SJ

Austin_SJ — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:40:43 +0000

With VR and motion control the problem always comes from moving around, after all you’ll end up colliding with walls, also it would be strange to walk up to an object and not feel it there, you’d just get vibrations or whatever.