Forum Discussion
Walking in VR [Long, Long, Long Post]
I keep finding myself posting really long posts in random threads that start talking about locomotion in VR, so I'm going to make a big post here instead that I can just point to. Introduction The...
Great post! Very thorough examination of the topic. I would say that adoption will be driven mainly by price versus performance (value for money). For me that is best provided by a passive ODT like the Omni. There seems to be a diminishing return when you start to make them more complicated and expensive with motorized or otherwise moving parts. In fact, to me those are actually worse. A couple of problems they have are inertia and response. For example, if you try to stop in a 'hamster-ball' type device, it has its own momentum which keeps it turning, so it's hard to keep your balance - I've even seen someone fall over in one.
The Omni lets you go from rest to sprinting instantly; stop, change direction and sprint again. I don't see that motorized treadmills can let you do that. How would they keep up and would it be possible to stay on them?
I don't think enough people have sufficiently large indoor spaces for redirected walking to be an option (let alone running). I can't take more than three steps here without bumping into something! Though I'd like to try it. I do see wide open spaces being used for augmented reality - I can imagine kids playing new AR sports in gyms, playgrounds and training fields.
In homes though, I think passive treadmills like the Omni will become hugely popular in the next few years. Not just for the added sense of presence, and mitigation of simulator sickness, but for the fitness benefits also.
There may be dedicated game rooms, while in others that lack an ODT, devices like stompz and balance boards are used.
Flexibility - I see this as something that may be improved on as part of an upgrade, rather than replacing the entire device. We may see continued innovation in this area, with ideas coming from passionate and knowledgeable people in the community, as OP suggests.
The Omni lets you go from rest to sprinting instantly; stop, change direction and sprint again. I don't see that motorized treadmills can let you do that. How would they keep up and would it be possible to stay on them?
I don't think enough people have sufficiently large indoor spaces for redirected walking to be an option (let alone running). I can't take more than three steps here without bumping into something! Though I'd like to try it. I do see wide open spaces being used for augmented reality - I can imagine kids playing new AR sports in gyms, playgrounds and training fields.
In homes though, I think passive treadmills like the Omni will become hugely popular in the next few years. Not just for the added sense of presence, and mitigation of simulator sickness, but for the fitness benefits also.
There may be dedicated game rooms, while in others that lack an ODT, devices like stompz and balance boards are used.
Flexibility - I see this as something that may be improved on as part of an upgrade, rather than replacing the entire device. We may see continued innovation in this area, with ideas coming from passionate and knowledgeable people in the community, as OP suggests.