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[Lucky Forward]

http://www.trnmag.com/Stories/2004/081104/Shifty_tiles_bring_walking_to_VR_Brief_081104.html

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba and ATR Media Information Research Labs in Japan have constructed a moving floor that allows the user to stay in place while walking in a virtual environment.

The device makes it possible to literally move through a virtual environment, and could be used to simulate operations like disaster evacuations, according to the researchers.

 

[clipunderground]

* jaw hits ground *

 

[xsarien]

I want a video of this.

 

[Dagless M.D.]

that is so fucking cool

 

[sprsk]

technology in action!

 

[sprsk]

the use of this in mmorpgs would be awesome.

 

[Desperado]

REGGIELUTION

or something

 

[xsarien]

Where's the holographic display to go along with it?

 

[clipunderground]

the use of this in mmorpgs would be awesome.

yes! yes it would.

 

[Slo]

the use of this in mmorpgs would be awesome.

And forever end obesity.

 

[Marty Chinn]

the use of this in mmorpgs would be awesome.

Wouldn't it just kill the genre? People would then realize how far they have to walk in between places just to do anything and quit =)

 

[Chrono]

I can totally imagine myself using this to simulate a walk outside when I'm sick of sitting at my PC.

 

[Lucky Forward]

Just found this pic on another site. Apparently the floor tiles you have just walked on will race ahead of you and position themselves to be stepped on next.

 

[xsarien]

Just found this pic on another site. Apparently the floor tiles you have just walked on will race ahead of you and position themselves to be stepped on next.

That's...a completely bizarre, yet totally logical solution.

 

[Slo]

Either you have to walk really really slowly, or those tiles have to be moving really fast.

 

[CoryCubed]

I'd like to see what they could do with DDR for this

 

[Lucky Forward]

Either you have to walk really really slowly, or those tiles have to be moving really fast.

That’s probably true, but the technology is in its infancy. I can imagine a future version made of much smaller tiles that constantly flow around the walker to always be in the proper place, almost swirling into place like a semi-liquid floor.

 

[sprsk]

Wouldn't it just kill the genre? People would then realize how far they have to walk in between places just to do anything and quit =)

if anything it would keep people from being so damn nomadic. It would make classes like bards and shop keepers actual bards and shopkeepers instead of warriors who can sell stuff.

centralizing mmorpgs would make them even more of a fun community.

 

[Hitman]

Would'nt the tiles continue to move up and up then.. So you'd eventually hit a wall. So is'nt this just like normal walking. Whatexactly does this technology solve.

Oh and for MMORPG's it would suck. Those games already require you to put countless hours into mind numbingly boring crap. Spending that time on your feet would suck.

 

[sprsk]

Would'nt the tiles continue to move up and up then.. So you'd eventually hit a wall. So is'nt this just like normal walking. Whatexactly does this technology solve.

Oh and for MMORPG's it would suck. Those games already require you to put countless hours into mind numbingly boring crap. Spending that time on your feet would suck.

1. i assume that it moves while your walking on it sort of like a moving walkway.

2. Designers would be forced to do away with that style of "kill enemies all freaking day so you can actually do something" style of gameplay.

 

[Slo]

The tile you are standing on moves against your movement so you are always in the same general location in the room. Kind of like walking up the down escalator.

 

[Lucky Forward]

Would'nt the tiles continue to move up and up then.. So you'd eventually hit a wall. So is'nt this just like normal walking. Whatexactly does this technology solve.

According to the article:

The floor moves in the opposite direction from the user so that the motion of each step is canceled and the user's position remains fixed in the real world.

 

[Lathentar]

Or walking on a treadmill.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

It would be like doing the running man.

MC Hammer gif needed!

 

[Buggy Loop]

Wow! I really want to see this, it could really change games designs in 10 years or so and give VR a big boost. Would be cool if they would keep pushing that technology and come to a point where they could change the angle of the tiles with hydrolics or whatever to simulate the terrain the user is walking on in the game, maybe lift up enough to create stairways and things like that. Totally awesome!

Technology rocks