V.R. Platform Addresses Movement Restrictions

Conceptually, Virtual Reality has been a long time coming.  While several major tech brands attempted in the 1980s, it was never particularly successful, and has thus remained in development until such time as it became practically usable.  That time is now, and a startup called Virtuix has added an element that goes beyond a headset. With just the software and a headset such as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, you can potentially walk around a virtual world, but how to handle movement has been a challenge.  Conventional control methods such as gamepads, mouse and keyboard, or headsets work as well as ever, they do hinder the possibility of total immersion in virtual worlds promised by developers. While some have attempted to allow users to game virtually, moving in-game while sitting in a chair, it has caused motion sickness with far too many people.  Creators of the Virtuix Omni hope that their device will be the solution to this problem.

The Virtuix Omni is the definition of cutting-edge technology, so it is best to have cutting-edge computer support available should the need arise.  It works with any VR platform as a complete unit, a stationary treadmill of sorts with special shoes that help to track movement.  This makes the virtual reality experience a full-body, completely immersive one while solving the problem of having users stumbling blindly around while knocking into things.  With the Omni, you get a pair of shoes, in your size, specially designed with low-traction soles to glide smoothly over the concave surface of the platform’s floor.  This way, you remain in place but the game you are playing measures your strides as movement. You can run, sidestep, or move backwards. The full cost of the system includes these shoes, the platform and frame, and a safety harness.

Designed not as a stand-alone but to work with existing VR platforms and the headsets provided, you will require computer repair for those individual components separately from the Omni.  These include headsets such as the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, as well as some form of gun or other controller when necessary.  With the Omni, Virtuix addresses issues in VR including freedom of movement, motion sickness, room size constraints, and even steps such as teleportation that some games have had to take, which work but seem out of place and can spoil gameplay. Virtuix Omni is the first solution that works the best with VR’s unique first-person perspective in which users walk or run around and are free to actually enjoy the environment.  As virtual reality becomes more commonplace, consumers will be asking for more realistic physical experiences to complement the virtual one, and the Virtuix Omni delivers just that.

Filed under: startups