Omni-directional treadmill allows individuals to sashay through virtual cities

Though not the first omni-directional treadmill we've ever seen, this version crafted for the EU-funded CyberWalk Project is entirely more interesting. The 6- x 6-meter device features an active walking area of 4.5- x 4.5-meters, and later this month, individuals anxious to prance through a virtual city will be able to strap on a head-mounted display, lace up their LA Lights and indulge in escapism. Aside from giving curious persons the ability to walk through a recreated version of ancient Pompeii, the device could also be used to meander through buildings not yet created or give firefighters a way to train without placing them in harm's way. Now, if only there was an option to dissolve into pixels and teleport to locales you find particularly intriguing, we'd be sold.

[Via Slashdot]

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 9:32AM]

erm... has no-one noticed the NOISE this thing was making when it was running? a virutal car plant, steelworks, or the like would be fine, but walking through a quiet country medow with "REEEEEE BANG BANG BANG REEEEEE" in the background might give the game away. :))

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 10:51AM]

I just want to know when OK Go is going to get their hands on a few of these.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 11:02PM]

This is how I'm going to take my life back from gaming, and I too will be free once more! Hooray for technology!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 14th 2008 10:40PM]

They have been doing this for quite a few years with dismounted infantry simulators, just the treadmills to date have had different issues including safety, noise, movement, etc.....