2D Treadmill list

The Virtuix Omni is the only option I'm considering. It can be installed almost anywhere and you can even run on it. Can't wait for its kickstarter.

This is a good topic, thanks for creating the list. I did a similar research recently and this is really all we have currently. The Viruix Omni seems to be the most feasible and comparatively functional option but the waist tether really puts me off. I'd rather have the ability to move freely than being able to run on it. Most users are imagining these treadmills for FPS games but I think the initial goal should be to have the ability to move around in simpler applications like a virtual gallery. I think traveling in 3D modeled environments for hard to go places (moon, grand canyon, a safari, Helm's Deep castle from Lord of the Rings, Pandora from Avatar, Louvre Museum etc. etc. :) ) will be a hit for the Rift and having full body freedom would be much more immersive than having a restrictive tether. I'm not sure why it would be so hard to walk on it without the tether.

Honestly playing FPS games with such a setup sounds really fun but I think being able to download/purchase a "map" of anywhere, putting on the Rift and going on a field trip there sounds much more exciting to me.

I've never seen the CirculaFloor before. It's a very interesting concept obviously in early prototype stage. It potentially has all the properties of the Cyberwalk with far less cost and complex. I think an algorithm with more than 4 bots (maybe 9) would make it a little more forgiving of quick motion changes. Unfortunately all of the devices that use motors to push you back into position look as if they are difficult to balance on. Even the Cyberwalk users wear harnesses.

I wonder if the Cyberwalk harness is not there for can't-stand-up-straight-balance but rather for contingency if it can't keep up with your motion and has to either up the treadmill velocity to pull you back from the edge, or let you wander off the edge, either way risking a stumble.

As for actual application, I'm with you mrYoda. I'm not sure some of the VR FPS wannabe-players have fully considered the physical requirements for playing a round where you have to physically run to get around the map. I'm sure there are those out there who think they could be in marathon runner shape if only they had a VR FPS rig, and for a few that may be true, but I'm guessing after a round or two would come the mapping of an autorun hotkey, which defeats the whole purpose.

I defiantly get the impression the Cyberwalk harness is there only for safety in the event you trip or lose balance "to protect from falling" not to hold you up, it defiantly looks the most stable "look at the feet crossing wile changing direction at 0.4 speed" but it's just not realistic for someone to put something that large in say there office or livingroom "well not yet at least" :] plus I bet the price is too high for most of us.

This is my first time seeing the Viruix Omni before "very interesting" Im curious how it actually works "is it just a bowl with a very low friction coating/ material composition (like your not really walking just sliding on the surface like wearing socks on a slick surface) that would explain the mid waist halo... I'll defiantly be keeping an eye on it. But I'm seriously not a fan of the "waist tether thing, it looks super uncomfortable"

I'm not convinced on the CirculaFloor design I duno... will see, it just seems a little out of reach at this point in time

Thanks for making this topic and list :]

My big goal is to play Skyrim "or similar" with the Oculus, some sort of omnidirectional movement pad/ treadmill, souround sound and some sort of controller like say the Razor Hydra...plus a hacked Kinect for jumping, crouching and voice commands would be awesome too

It's still very much just a development phase project but I like the design concept of the Cybercarpet

"Visigoth" wrote:
My big goal is to play Skyrim "or similar" with the Oculus, some sort of omnidirectional movement pad/ treadmill, souround sound and some sort of controller like say the Razor Hydra...plus a hacked Kinect for jumping, crouching and voice commands would be awesome too

Well you could always do something like this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL3J1EnnNOg

Yeah that's seriously cool, but not viable where I live :] unless you want to walk into people or run the risk of getting mugged O_O

Well there is also the Wizdish:

http://www.wizdish.com/

Honestly, I am rooting for the Omni the most, since it seems like an actual working product, not just a research prototype. I also saw a video where Jan (the creator) was running fast and jumping, things I don't think would be feasible with the Wizdish. But both devices seem to provide an affordable and compact solution that people could actually fit in their small flat.

Oh right - I'd forgotten about the Wizdish. It looks like a flatter Omni without the waist harness.

I couldn't help myself - when I first saw the Omni, the image that popped into my head was this:



However, after watching the videos of people on the Wizdish using a HMD far less immersive than the Rift, I'm thinking the waist harness might be the way to go. It keeps you from toppling over and killing yourself when you can't peek around the sides of your HMD to see where you're at. And the fact that they seem to be the closest to consumer-reality helps too.

that image is appropriate not only because it resembles the Omni, but also because it reminds us of the "infancy state" of VR, this is only the beginning, the best is yet to come 8-)