Cyberith Virtualizer ODT

"sutekiB" wrote:
I much prefer it to a regular treadmill. You can indeed walk, and even jog backwards, I know because... I've done it! :lol: I'm not sure why Jan downplayed it before, maybe it was more difficult with the older shoe design (it's since been improved).

Just goes to show that it is too early to conclude anything about which ODT is going to 'win', both of them are still very much inactive development.

It is very interesting to hear that backwards jogging work okay, they should definitely highlight that as a feature. I would have thought the curved surface would work a bit against such moves and as you mentioned that the shoe design would cause trouble. Is there any details on the new shoe design available?

I will probably end up with the Virtualizer regardless, because it has some shipping cost/tax advantages by being european based, and i still think the crouching and sitting functionality is very interesting. I really wish someone could do a comparative review of the prototypes though.

"ziphnor" wrote:
I really wish someone could do a comparative review of the prototypes though.

I'll do it, just send me both prototypes :-D

I would love to see a video with someone on a ODT, wearing the Oculus Rift and using STEM System while playing GTA :)

Anyway... many people that have used the Oculus Rift report experiencing motion-sickness. Does the using a ODT reduce or even eliminate that?

"ziphnor" wrote:

Just goes to show that it is too early to conclude anything about which ODT is going to 'win', both of them are still very much inactive development.

I'm far too biased to have an opinion on that!

"ziphnor" wrote:

It is very interesting to hear that backwards jogging work okay, they should definitely highlight that as a feature. I would have thought the curved surface would work a bit against such moves and as you mentioned that the shoe design would cause trouble. Is there any details on the new shoe design available?

I don't know what I looked like while I was jogging backwards, but it felt good. The curved surface helps, just as it does going forwards. I didn't notice any problem with the higher friction pad on the toe. Maybe when the tracking is built in and the game recognizes it we'll see the full range of motions possible in future videos. At the moment they're modified golf shoes with the studs replaced with disks made of the same material as the base. No more plunger pin.

"ziphnor" wrote:

I will probably end up with the Virtualizer regardless, because it has some shipping cost/tax advantages by being european based, and i still think the crouching and sitting functionality is very interesting. I really wish someone could do a comparative review of the prototypes though.

Sure, hopefully we won't be paying too much in shipping. A big part of the cost is to your door, as the freight to european hubs isn't so bad once you're sending larger volumes. I'm sure the Omni can be modified to allow crouching/sitting. The quality of movement is important. How comfortable is it with prolonged use? How fast can you go? Also you want a good low latency tracking solution, either custom (such as the Omni's) or STEM.

"farrefar" wrote:

I would love to see a video with someone on a ODT, wearing the Oculus Rift and using STEM System while playing GTA :)

Anyway... many people that have used the Oculus Rift report experiencing motion-sickness. Does the using a ODT reduce or even eliminate that?

YouTube. Twitch. Next year. VR's going viral, I think that's a safe bet!

I didn't get any motion sickness at all, and that's with no positional tracking on the Rift, and some lag with the Kinect. It just feels very natural. In contrast, when movement occurs without you initiating it, it's like someone just pushed you in the back. Not very pleasant. I believe the Omni is going to at least help, if not completely solve the problem.

SutekiB - It seems like you are already working for them. You post links in every forum for Virtuix and try to promote the omni. They should hire you! :D

I think the Omni will be a nice gadget, but if you want freedom of movement for good VR experience the Virtualizer might be better. The new material of the Virtualizer looks to be good.
It would be nice to see similar movements like in the Video of the Virtualizer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGWPHYT88r8) in the Omni, but I don't believe they are possible. How should f.ex. crouching work without vertical movemet of the ring. The combination of an inflexible ring and a belt system like the omni has, does not allow crouching mechanically.
I would wonder if walking backwards was possible in a curved floorspace. The feet had to slide upwards for walking backwards, I can't imagine this is working well. As long as I haven't seen it, I don't believe it.

"GamerX" wrote:
SutekiB - It seems like you are already working for them. You post links in every forum for Virtuix and try to promote the omni. They should hire you! :D

Ha, thanks GamerX, I'll be sure to tell them that! :lol:

"CharlieW" wrote:
It would be nice to see similar movements like in the Video of the Virtualizer

That's a good idea, I'll suggest it. There'll be some videos of the tracking soon, I expect you'll see a greater range of actions then.

"CharlieW" wrote:
I would wonder if walking backwards was possible in a curved floorspace. The feet had to slide upwards for walking backwards, I can't imagine this is working well.

It's okay, you don't slide your feet upwards. You raise your foot off the platform, move it back and set it down again, then it slides to the middle, like when you walk forwards. Honestly the curved design is the way to go, otherwise you're dragging your feet half the time. Let gravity do some of the work!

btw the latest update has just gone live. Includes tracking reveal (no video yet) and revised delivery estimate. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1944625487/omni-move-naturally-in-your-favorite-game/posts

This is just a suggestion, but given the estimate has been pushed back to March/April for Kickstarter backers, you might want to pre-order now. When videos of independent moving, looking and aiming are shown the media might go crazy over it, and you could end up with an even longer wait. :cry:

This does not change the fact, that crouching is not possible in the omni machanically.

Walking backwards in the style sutekiB describes is against the physical principle of this devices. Because of the phyical principle you have to lean backwards for walking backwards. You can't walk this style while leaning backwards.

The Concept of the Virtualizer is much better.

The Cyberith guys show us what they do, because this movements are possible in the Virtualizer, you can see it in the videos. I think Virtuix don't show videos like the one I posted, because the movements are not possible in the Omni.

"sutekiB" wrote:

"ziphnor" wrote:

Just goes to show that it is too early to conclude anything about which ODT is going to 'win', both of them are still very much inactive development.

I'm far too biased to have an opinion on that!

It was mostly directed at how the rest of this thread had been going before you posted :) It is fair enough to hope that one will be best, but its too early to say IMO.

"sutekiB" wrote:

This is just a suggestion, but given the estimate has been pushed back to March/April for Kickstarter backers, you might want to pre-order now. When videos of independent moving, looking and aiming are shown the media might go crazy over it, and you could end up with an even longer wait. :cry:

I know you already said you are pretty biased, but trying to panic people into ordering the Omni is perhaps taking it a bit too far? :) It would seem prudent to wait for the December 11th and at least see the crowd-funding presentation of the Virtualizer as well as price etc. The $200-250 shipping estimate of the Omni is pretty scary to us Scandinavians, especially since we will also have to pay 25% VAT of the shipping cost in addition to the $499 price tag. Even without the Virtualizer in the picture, i wouldn't order the Omni without a guarantee that i won't end up paying 1.25 x ($499+$250) + customs tax.

Anyway, I still think the Virtualizer looks to have more potential with its wider range of moves possible, but i hope to see some more Omni videos as well, to make it easier to compare.