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Google Patents Motorized, Omnidirectional VR Sneakers (arstechnica.com)

Google has patented motorized, omnidirectional virtual-reality sneakers that may solve the "limited space" problem associated with the interactive computer-generated experience. Ars Technica reports: Google's patent describes what are essentially motorized VR roller skates that will let the user walk normally while the motors and wheels work to negate your natural locomotion and keep you inside the VR safe zone. As the patent puts it, Google's new kicks will let you walk "seemingly endlessly in the virtual environment" while keeping you in one spot in real life. Google's shoe solution would track the user's feet, just like how VR controllers are tracked today. The tracking would know when you're too close to the virtual walls of your VR area, and the system would wheel you back into place.

Patents are always written to give the broadest possible coverage of an idea, but Google's patent shows normal wheels, tracks, and even omnidirectional mecanum wheels as possible wheels for the VR shoe bottoms. Omnidirectional wheels would be great, as they would allow you to do things like sidestep, while still having your position corrected by the shoes.

60 comments

  1. Roller Skates by sycodon · · Score: 1

    So...they patented Roller Skates.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    1. Re:Roller Skates by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      Electric roller skates. That don't go anywhere. Well done goog, this one will be worth the inevitable shutdown notice!

    2. Re:Roller Skates by DickBreath · · Score: 1

      But . . .
      Roller skates on a computer
      and that never leave the same spot no matter how much skating you do.

      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    3. Re:Roller Skates by zlives · · Score: 1

      my hip....

    4. Re:Roller Skates by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      Call me when they get VR fucking working.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    5. Re:Roller Skates by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      VR porn done.

      Electric 'vaginers' done.

      At this point it's just a quality question. 'She' just lays there...

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    6. Re:Roller Skates by kiviQr · · Score: 1

      I already have them in my closed. They don't go anywhere either!

    7. Re:Roller Skates by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      And it isn't going to improve very fast, because the people who know what it is supposed to do aren't even the customers.

      The programmers are eating their own dogfood, but none of them are dogs, and they have no idea what it is supposed to taste like.

    8. Re:Roller Skates by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Well, until they patent this https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/da... out of reality, well, sitting down will still be preferable for extended gameplay by the majority. Why skates do not work, running, jumping, fast turns, skipping, jump swivel et al. Sure you maybe might be able to alter the view but not the person keeping the balance, the slightest glitch and down they do with every right to sue the crap out of the manufacturer because staying upright would be difficult and falling down pretty regular.

      To VR you need an exoskeleton to fully support the player in mid air and provide the full motion phsyical feed back. Now this has function not only in game play but remote robotics. Fucking roller skates, what a fucking joke, but I'll bet Google piece of shit lawyers have figured out a way to stretch that roller skate patent to cover an exoskeleton as a HID human interface device, with full motion feed back and even sensor suite, with feed back, the sort of thing that would do really well in gyms.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    9. Re:Roller Skates by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      Who cares? Go down to the park, look at all the fit people exercising, those are all potential customers.

  2. CRASH HELMET by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, are they making the headset crash resistant now?!?

    You know we have to wear a helmet when we skate here! Don't see how they both fit on my head.

    I think I am just too old for that plan, VR on skates is a pass from me.

  3. Broad patents fall to prior art. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

    Broad patents fall to prior art, narrow patents fall to small changes. Like everything, it's about balance. That and more than one patent with a spread of specificity, at an average of 10k$ each, just to get them.

    They've had powered fruit boots for decades.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    1. Re:Broad patents fall to prior art. by nospam007 · · Score: 1

      "Like everything, it's about balance."

      Checking balance. Google broke my hip.

    2. Re:Broad patents fall to prior art. by zlives · · Score: 1

      what is most likely... WASD will still beat the boots :)

    3. Re:Broad patents fall to prior art. by freeze128 · · Score: 1

      Sorry Google, but SMART already has a shoe with wheels.

  4. Patents for daydreams by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is pretty stupid on multiple levels.
    1. I can draw some bull crap with crayons too and say I have an idea and it should be patented and nobody can ever implement anything remotely resembling my dumb little idea.
    2. This does nothing to solve the actual real issue with VR: motion sickness when your actual motions don't match the images being sent to your eyes.

  5. IMPERSONATING ME AGAIN? apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    gweihir KNOWS u IMPERSONATE me https://it.slashdot.org/commen... c6gunner proves it https://linux.slashdot.org/com... forgetting to SUBMIT BY AC & f'd up using his registered 'lusrname' instead (just because he tried to mock me both BEFORE & after I FAIRLY challenged him to show he's done better work - he had ZERO).

    & NO WAY I'd "cry" like you to "ne'er-do-wells" on /. (TROLL /.ers, not all) OR post on hosts offtopic.

    YOU HELPED ME https://science.slashdot.org/c... (& you quit trying to make me look bad trying to "tell lies" on hosts as "ME" IN YOUR IMPERSONATIONS of me e.g. https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... & regarding Intel speculative execution attack? Hosts DO PREVENT THEM)

    APK

    P.S.=> I KNOW that 2nd to last link above's KILLING YOU that YOU ACTUALLY HELPED ME getting me to see if hosts stop more than portsmash (& Meltdown + Spectre too) & "lo & behold" - hosts WORK on 'em - U LOSE (& U STOPPED TRYING IT in your impersonations of me) .... apk

    1. Re: IMPERSONATING ME AGAIN? apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Waaaaahhhh! Waaaaahhhh! You crybaby imbecile. Stick to posting about bump stocks, idiot. You don't know shit about technology.

  6. Re:You people need to STOP BULLYING ME... apk by DickBreath · · Score: 0

    There are Safe Spaces where you can go and never be censored or bullied, nor have to hear anything offensive to your sensitive thin skin, and never have anyone disagree with you.

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  7. I'll me when by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    they have hamburger earmuffs

  8. Dear Google by DickBreath · · Score: 3, Funny

    Please make your VR experience so good that if someone is texting and walking in the VR they suffer the same consequences they would in real life.

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    1. Re:Dear Google by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

      NPCs point and laugh at you?

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    2. Re:Dear Google by DickBreath · · Score: 1

      I always thought they were laughing with me. But I wasn't sure what we were laughing about.

      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  9. You're literally the one CRYING, not I... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're literally the one CRYING, not I: I merely state verifiable fact that has you a "wee bit 'HOT'" judging by your "ReAcTioN", lol!

    * Yes, I am the CYBERIAN Tiger vs. Paper Tigers (just fact again) https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... (classic that one) & CRYberian PUSSIES like you Mr. Waaahh Waaaah, lol... RoTfLmAo!

    APK

    P.S.=> I never did the bumpstock b.s. either - so cut your crap OR possibly NAIVE chump GULLIBLE suckerhood thinking I did - clue: I didn't & EVERYONE KNOWS (by now for sure) that there's idiots IMPERSONATING me https://yro.slashdot.org/comme... (or STALKING ME by UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous posts like yours, troll - Grow up boy)... apk

    1. Re: You're literally the one CRYING, not I... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A toddler might find the "Cyberian Tiger" thing clever and funny. The rest of us see it for the stupid idiocy that it is. You're not cool, clever, or intelligent. You're not even capable of functioning as a normal human being, which is why you spend your life sitting in a $1 house, ranting on a tech website. You're a nutjob and every one of your posts clearly demonstrates as much. Come back when you understand how speculative execution works, since you're the moron who thought it could vulnerabilities in it could be triggered remotely. That shows once again that you're clueless about technology.

      NIG

      P.S.=> I've forgotten more about technology than you'll ever know, and I'll continue to prove it by calling out your idiocy... nig

  10. Inner ear by markdavis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    >"The tracking would know when you're too close to the virtual walls of your VR area, and the system would wheel you back into place."

    And your inner ear (balance and acceleration) would immediately know you were being moved without actually wanting to move and it could make you sick as a dog- just like being sea-sick. It is a neat idea, but it is far from seamless or natural. In fact, it might even amplify other contradictory signals being fed into your eyes (vision) and ears (hearing). Knowing me, I would be super sick :)

    1. Re:Inner ear by cameron.miller · · Score: 1

      Agreed, would it work better if the sneakers just kept you stationary like a multi-directional treadmill. IIRC something like what the movie Player One used.

    2. Re:Inner ear by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fairgrounds have already perfected VR with rows of seats that move up down on conveyor belts and chains, and aircraft simulators with more expensive hydraulic arms and 3d movie projectors. Before that it was plywood shaking and tilting driven by 3d treadmills..

      The downside is changing into shoes takes time and effort - a bit like bowling shoe hire or at the icerink.

      Sorry, someones already dome the MJ moonwalker by having magnet shoes, and magnets under the greased disco floor that can also move. unlike motorised roller skates, this works at 45 degrees, think skiing simulations or rapelling..

    3. Re:Inner ear by markdavis · · Score: 1

      >"Fairgrounds have already perfected VR with rows of seats that move"

      This is the exact opposite. In the example you provide- they are moving you AND working with your eyes to tell you that you ARE moving. In the shoes example I highlighted, they are trying to lie to you and tell you that you are NOT moving but moving you, anyway.

      Interestingly, we seem to adapt more readily to the former as opposed to the latter.... probably because we are very, very used to things like movies and TV that show us moving when we are not, so we are conditioned to recognize and handle it easily.

    4. Re:Inner ear by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      The multidirectional treadmills exist. I know HTC has used them to show off the VIVE, and there was a kickstarter for them a while ago.

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      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    5. Re:Inner ear by CeasedCaring · · Score: 1

      You mean this real, actual device that the studio borrowed for the movie?

    6. Re:Inner ear by Wescotte · · Score: 1

      There are already potential solutions to avoid this problem. Palmer Lucky recently tweeted he has been working on it and anticipating sharing a hardware/software solution in the next year.

  11. Oh, please: Quote Rorschach from Watchmen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & "None of you seem to understand - I'm not locked in here w/ you - YOU'RE LOCKED IN HERE WITH ME" https://tech.slashdot.org/comm...

    * A Cyberian Tiger vs. many here being mere "Paper Tigers" ala e.g. https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... , lol - no, not ALL of you - many here like RayMorris actually DO do good stuff & have my RESPECT.

    TROLLS LIKE YOU DON'T & never will - I wager you don't even RESPECT YOURSELVES - why?

    YOU STALK ME BY UNIDENTIFIABLE ANONYMOUS POSTS & DO NOT STAND BEHIND YOUR WORDS...

    (& by the way? I didn't post this crap, ever https://yro.slashdot.org/comme... but ipersonators of me DO... )

    APK

    P.S.=> & my words paint the TRUE "Dorian Gray" portrait of you + "your kind" like you in FAR LESS than a 1,000 words - & you KNOW it proving it constantly stalking me (or IMPERSONATING me https://yro.slashdot.org/comme... )... apk

  12. queer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    fag.

  13. Story of my life by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

    The harder I strive to move forward, the more it seems like the ground is moving backwards under my feet!

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    1. Re:Story of my life by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You may approach 1m in front of you but you may never reach it!

  14. "Imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I notice I "got to you" & you're TRYING to be like ME "signing off" as I do but using AC - PROOF you WISH you were me, lol!

    * Again, SOLID proof & FACT - not your b.s. CRYING Mr. "Waaah Waaaah" RoTfLmAo...

    I also SEE my CyBeRiAn TiGeR (vs. your kind being MERE "Paper Tigers", lol) PROVOKED your "FoAmiNg-@-TeH-MouTh" raging "ReAcTioN" too as I KNEW it would... you played yourself.

    Hosts work vs. SPECULATIVE EXECUTION attacks dumbo - academic papers proved 2/3 & 1 I already knew of https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... FACT you can't combat - it's what KILLS trolls like you!

    Hosts act as PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE - & you've done BETTER? Prove it.

    (I'll be waiting on the "12th of NEVER" from a "ne'er-do-well" like YOU to prove that & you KNOW it so "shooo" lil' troll - RUN, Forrest - RUN!!!)

    You RANT on ME spending time on /. in me? LOOK @ YOU hypocrite!

    APK

    P.S.=> I own my own home fully paid off & improved it too - trolls like YOU live under BRIDGES (like bums)

  15. Great. But I don't want to walk by AuMatar · · Score: 1

    If I wanted to walk, I'd go outside. There's a big park a few blocks away. But I have no interesting in walking or running around while playing a video game, not am I in good enough shape to do so. Nobody wants this, so what's the freaking point?

    --
    I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
  16. Giant Trackball... by linatux · · Score: 1

    I always figured a giant trackball would be ideal - something you can actually walk on, control the effort required, offer up/downhill. Could probably offer steps/textures if the ball was flexible. Put a handrail around it for safety or a harness so you can't fall off. Plug it in as a haptic-feedback mouse - should be easy.

    1. Re: Giant Trackball... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google is everywhere

    2. Re:Giant Trackball... by pslytely+psycho · · Score: 1

      You've just described an omnidirectional treadmill.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBEfOcNTaVA&ab_channel=GadgetInspiration

      They've been available for a few years, but pricey!

      --
      Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable
  17. Re:Great. But I don't want to walk by Locke2005 · · Score: 1

    The whole point is that it forces you to exercise while playing a video game... I consider that a good thing. In fact, most of the exercise machines at the gym are boring as heck, enough to make me think a $2000 Peloton exercise bike might be worth the cost for the operator entertainment.

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  18. Are they on balls? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because unless they are on balls, plus have adjustable pivots to make your feet feel like they are coming down on uneven surfaces, these are just gimmicks and not actually something that can keep you inside of a circle or square VR corral while allowing you sufficient tactility to emulate actual locomotion inside of a virtual world. Once they have all of those features, and manage it in something that doesn't feel like 20-50 pounds of lead weights off the bottom of your feet, then MAYBE we can have a discussion about VR locomotion centering using shoes. In the meantime they sound like a terrible idea that won't provide a serious alternative to the waist harness/treatmill virtual reality systems, which I also consider unimpressive.

    1. Re:Are they on balls? by Luckyo · · Score: 4, Informative

      Even if they were like you describe, it would not address the correct problem pointed out in the GP post. Inner ear tracks acceleration, and when its tracking becomes inconsistent with what you're observing with your eyes, automated systems in your body make an assumption that you ingested some kind of psychoactive substance that is affecting your cognitive abilities and immediately act to evacuate the stomach to reduce additional substance absorption and have you lie down so it can maximize amount of resources needed to counteract the effects.

    2. Re:Are they on balls? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The immersiveness of VR relies on the fact that your brain will strongly prefer the visual cues over the inner ear cues. This is why you can be sitting/standing still with your VR goggles on and experience the sensation of acceleration.

    3. Re:Are they on balls? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If the movement is gentle and smooth enough the inner ear isn't sensitive enough to notice.

      People who have been on Japanese high speed trains or in some electric cars will know this. More than once I've been on the train, looked down at something and when I looked up again the station was slowly rolling past the window.

      It would probably have to be combined with more aggressive acceleration for when the user starts running. The main challenge would be creating a pair of shoes that can accelerate you gently in perfect sync.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:Are they on balls? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It has to be fairly strong acceleration if it is to solve the stated problem. Of course, easier to solve in a large physical realm, but with those ones, cheaper perceptual tricks work fine, eg. making a user go in circles by cheating on the apparent visual direction. In small arenas, the problem with the "skate" acceleration isn't that it's noticeable, or even that it gives motion sickness: the problem is that the user simply topples from the sudden force, think stepping on banana peel. At best it'll be awkward, jerky motion with a weird poise.

    5. Re:Are they on balls? by Luckyo · · Score: 1

      What is the common feature in your examples, "high speed trains and some electric cars" that is absent in VR?

      That's right. Window(s) to see directly outside. That is what brings inner ear and vision into agreement, and one of the more critical reasons as to why high speed trains and cars have windows even for passengers with no control over the vehicle.

  19. Michasel Jackson's prior art: by Hartree · · Score: 1

    Moonwalking shoes!

  20. Re:You people need to STOP BULLYING ME... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dear fellow slashdot readers,

    I SINCERELY apologize for BOTHERING all of you lately due to TOTAL lack of UnDeRsTaNdInG that by definition the "anonymous coward" login is itself impervious to impersonation since anyone can use IT.

    SO MY complaining about being impersonated is 100% MENTAL INSTABILITY..

    I promise to take my MEDICATION with better regularity.

    APK

  21. Prior Mythbuster Art? by ramriot · · Score: 1

    Isn't this exactly one of the projects Ex Mythbuster Jamie Hyneman has been working on for quite a while, does not that count as prior art. Potentially wilful infringement considering there are videos of them posted on a Google Website. https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  22. Like slipping in roller skates by goombah99 · · Score: 1

    If you don't actually move when you walk then there's no sense of acceleration. Since our ability to walk is mostly mechanical, it works by arresting a fall. That is, you fall forward then stop the fall. You can do this because you are accelerating.

    if you are not accelerating there's nothing to arrest.

    When you wear rollerskates and try to walk normally they slip out behind you and you fall down. it's really hard to walk normally in roller skates. Yes you can do a sort of walk motion but not a normal friction push.

    google's skates might be even worse since they are powered.

    --
    Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
  23. Re:Great. But I don't want to walk by AuMatar · · Score: 1

    No, that's why nobody will buy it, and even for those who do it will quickly gather dust like an exercise bike. Nobody wants to be forced to exercise while they game, and anyone who does use this will be at a severe disadvantage to those who don't. And if oyu make separate networks it will be nearly deserted.

    Peloton makes things work by heavily targeting cycling enthusiasts. You don't buy one to lose weight, you buy one to train for race/distance rides. There's no equivalent for video games.

    --
    I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
  24. I want a VR beercan tracker. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When I play Oculus Go, I can see my controller in VR, but not my beercan. I would like to put a VR tracker ring on top of the beercan, so that I can put it on the table and pick it up again to drink without spilling my beer. I drink it with a straw when I wear the VR headset, so maybe there could be a tracker for the straw as well??

    Thank you for listening, now someone go produce the BeerTrackerRing, and VR straw and I will buy them.

  25. movement by sad_ · · Score: 1

    movement is the biggest problem for (some) vr experiences.
    walking is one thing, but imagine a vr game as immersive as some of the latest FPS's and i can guarantee you walking is only half of what you will be doing.
    jumping, ducking, crawling, etc will all be part of it, and such these rolling shoes will only help a bit and you still need a big open space.

    would be fine for 'walking simulators' and vr-museums i suppose.

    --
    On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
  26. Re:Great. But I don't want to walk by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 1

    anyone who does use this will be at a severe disadvantage to those who don't. And if oyu make separate networks it will be nearly deserted.

    You're assuming that people using this are participating in competitive multiplayer games in VR. I certainly don't. something like this would increase immersion in a single player RPG.

    --
    "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
  27. Re:Great. But I don't want to walk by Areyoukiddingme · · Score: 1

    You're assuming that people using this are participating in competitive multiplayer games in VR. I certainly don't. something like this would increase immersion in a single player RPG.

    Not much. The most interesting terrain in a single player RPG is frequently not a flat, level floor, making attempts to use shoes like this problematic at best. "Climbing" the hill in front of you by just walking forwards on your living room floor sounds like a great way to teach yourself how to fail walking in reality, after too much exposure. Not to mention being extremely disorienting when your vision believes you're about to bury your leg up to the knee in the terrain in front of you when actually you're going to step on air if you try to place your foot properly.