LG
04-22-2013, 04:13 AM
Virtual reality is cool and all, don't get us wrong. But it still feels a bit weird to don a big, bulky headset and still have to rely on your fingers for movement – as in, it's not as if you can just take off down the block to simulate all of your hijinks in your first-person-shooter of choice. At the end of the day, you're still going to be using some kind of WSAD-like keyboard control to run your virtual self around.
Well, unless you pick up an Omni.
The Omni itself is nothing new; manufacturer Virtuix has been showing off its in-home treadmill system for a bit of time now. Or, as the company bills it, its "natural motion interface" that comes in the form of an open "booth" of sorts that one steps into and uses to run in any direction one wants.
Combined with a virtual reality interface, the Omni presents a compelling method of interaction that could allow gamers to immerse themselves into their experiences to an even greater degree – and perhaps shed a few calories in the process, especially for those planning to around the Far Cry 3 island all day long. But don't take our word for it; Virtuix has released a new video that combines the Omni treadmill with the oft-talked-about Oculus Rift headset.
In other words, flawless, in-game motion mapped to one's head movements combined with realistic aiming and physical movement that simulates exactly how one's character would be running and gunning within the game – Team Fortress 2, in the case of the video demo.
"No omni treadmill exists that is affordable to household consumers or fits in a living room, so we are trying to fill this void. After extensive research, experimenting and prototyping, I believe we have accomplished to develop the first omni treadmill that meets three crucial objectives: being affordable to household consumers, being compact enough to fit in a living room, and above all, enabling a user to walk freely and naturally in virtual environments," said Virtuix CEO Jan Goetgeluk in an interview with GamerFitNation last month.
While there's no set date as to when gamers might be able to pick up an Omni of their own, Virtuix hopes to soon launch a Kickstarter campaign to generate additional interest in the device – and additional funding for some Kinect-friendly iterations of the home treadmill. Goetgeluk hints that the hope is to get the home treadmill around the $1,000 price point, a natural fit for virtual reality devices that could create, "a whole new consumer market, much like the PC did in the 90's."
pcmag
Well, unless you pick up an Omni.
The Omni itself is nothing new; manufacturer Virtuix has been showing off its in-home treadmill system for a bit of time now. Or, as the company bills it, its "natural motion interface" that comes in the form of an open "booth" of sorts that one steps into and uses to run in any direction one wants.
Combined with a virtual reality interface, the Omni presents a compelling method of interaction that could allow gamers to immerse themselves into their experiences to an even greater degree – and perhaps shed a few calories in the process, especially for those planning to around the Far Cry 3 island all day long. But don't take our word for it; Virtuix has released a new video that combines the Omni treadmill with the oft-talked-about Oculus Rift headset.
In other words, flawless, in-game motion mapped to one's head movements combined with realistic aiming and physical movement that simulates exactly how one's character would be running and gunning within the game – Team Fortress 2, in the case of the video demo.
"No omni treadmill exists that is affordable to household consumers or fits in a living room, so we are trying to fill this void. After extensive research, experimenting and prototyping, I believe we have accomplished to develop the first omni treadmill that meets three crucial objectives: being affordable to household consumers, being compact enough to fit in a living room, and above all, enabling a user to walk freely and naturally in virtual environments," said Virtuix CEO Jan Goetgeluk in an interview with GamerFitNation last month.
While there's no set date as to when gamers might be able to pick up an Omni of their own, Virtuix hopes to soon launch a Kickstarter campaign to generate additional interest in the device – and additional funding for some Kinect-friendly iterations of the home treadmill. Goetgeluk hints that the hope is to get the home treadmill around the $1,000 price point, a natural fit for virtual reality devices that could create, "a whole new consumer market, much like the PC did in the 90's."
pcmag