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Walking In A VR Future

Posted by timothy on from the see-the-lovely-veldt dept.

neol'schmoe writes "There's a new solution to the age old problem of physical movement within a virtual world. Researchers in Japan have come up with tiles that move in concert with a user's pace and motion to allow free range of motion while literally walking in a virtual environment and never leaving a very small area in the real world."

23 of 371 comments (clear)

  1. Screw the tiles! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We have hot cyber-chick slaves to invent and perfect!

    1. Re:Screw the tiles! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yeah. What we really need to develop is a stable release of virtual pizza.

    2. Re:Screw the tiles! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Come on, unity! This is why we still don't have cyber-chicks. Pizza will come later!

  2. And... by N0decam · · Score: 5, Funny

    Holodeck jokes in 5...4...3...2...1...

    1. Re:And... by digitalsushi · · Score: 4, Funny

      agreed. make it so!

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      slashdot: where everyone yells sarcastic metaphors to themselves to understand the issue
  3. Circula-Trash? by grunt107 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Does it come with a 'sticky-spot' mod to simulate chewed gum on sidewalk?

    1. Re:Circula-Trash? by Oliver+Wendell+Jones · · Score: 3, Funny

      If they make it work fast enough that you can jog on it, then all you need is virtual naked women so that us geeks can virtually chase virtually naked virtual women and lose weight - Porn and Weight Loss appear to be two HUGE markets based on the spam I receive....

      --
      A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing -- Emo Phillips
    2. Re:Circula-Trash? by Wireless+Joe · · Score: 2, Funny


      You've just described every Benny Hill-inspired chase dream I've ever had. Where do I pay for this virtual wonder?

  4. Holodecks are next!! by udowish · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hum, looks like Holodecks are just around the corner! mmmmmm holo babes and beeeer!

    --
    when in doubt press enter and we'll figure it out later..
  5. hmm.... how fast is it? by fitten · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can it handle running, as if from a dragon?!?!?!

  6. What?? by Timesprout · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think most of us would agree that 'age old problem of physical movement within a virtual world' has absolutely nothing to do with walking. Its waaaaay more rythmic and horizontal than ambulatory.

    --
    Do not try to read the dupe, thats impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth
    What truth?
    There is no dupe
  7. I have one of these... by GillBates0 · · Score: 4, Funny
    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.

    I like to call it a "treadmill". Sounds much better than "shifty tiles" IMHO.

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
  8. pretty cool by jford235 · · Score: 3, Funny

    but its gonna suck the 1st time it breaks in mid-stride and sends you crashing into your rendering farm for the VR.

  9. FPS integrates to olympics? by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally, FPS games will require moving around physically... I can see the game contestants' average weight declining rapidly as this device picks up support for Doom 3, etc.
    "I'm on the VR FPS diet! I just run around and pretend to shoot people for 8 hours a day."

    --
    stuff |
  10. Japanese business oppurtunity by djfray · · Score: 2, Funny

    Attn all employees: Your sleeping tubes have now been upgraded, to a modestly sized bathroom, with movable tiles with VR-capability! You will live in a virtual mansion! Note: All employees will receive an annual $10,000 deduction for VR-Mansion maintainence fees.

    --
    This sig is o Unfunny o Funny
  11. Professor Henry Jones by gsf789 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "But in the Latin alphabet, "Jehovah" begins with an "I."

  12. Re:Mmmm.... Running in Doom by WormholeFiend · · Score: 5, Funny

    or you could get a bunch of your friends to dress as zombies and imps, and head over to the nearest paintball venue...

    have the management turn all the lights off, and the main rule is that you cant use both the paintball gun and the flashlight at the same time.

  13. Bally's VR-workout? by grunt107 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Future story:
    "The % of obese people ages 18-26 has decreased significantly with the simultaneous releases of GTA5:VRRiot and MallWalker1:ShoppingFury"

  14. Re:just plain exercise by Destoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Here's the game for you.

    Hall Runner

    "Sprint down halls as if you were some type of madman.
    What could be better? Watch out for the bugs or tentacles, though! They can hurt!
    Ouchy! Fun for several!"

    Brought to you by the people who made Trogdor.

    --
    Nouvelles de jeux et technologies en français. TC
  15. Re:What about a sphere? by retinaburn · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ok I will buy your giant gerbil ball, but I will not, repeat will not sleep in my food dish.

  16. Re:What about the nausea problem? by CanSpice · · Score: 5, Funny
    IIRC it's not exactly new, Star Trek uses something like it to explain holodeck movement

    Here's a tip: Star Trek isn't real.
  17. Re:... oh, wow ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    PHYSICAL REALITY v1.0 has a distinct lack of reliable respawn points. Why, my friend was fragged the other week, and he still hasn't rejoined the map.

  18. Re:What about the nausea problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Here's a tip: Star Trek isn't real.

    pffft. Wacko.