http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/ Engadget Comments for CirculaFloor robot floor tiles keep you moving in virtual reality http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 27th 2009 3:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQw1tsgrJOs&feature=related]]>Feb 26th 2009 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 6:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 6:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
I wonder what's changed to make it show up on the radar again.]]>Feb 26th 2009 2:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
I had a feeling I had seen this years ago too, and here at Engadget. And it was YEARS ago.
http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/19/the-circulafloor/

James is right, this is back from 2004. Is there anything different about it that's showing up now, or is this just a blunder on Engadget's part?]]>Feb 26th 2009 4:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.virtusphere.com/]]>Feb 26th 2009 3:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
ceiling mounted body harness. large orb (think trackball) installed into the floor to walk in 360'.

you're welcome]]>Feb 26th 2009 2:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
;)]]>Feb 26th 2009 6:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Holodeck]]>Feb 26th 2009 6:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 2:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
Yes, is horrible, dis idea.

In case anyone else wants to walk down memory lane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcv5e6xX25I]]>Feb 26th 2009 5:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/They used rollers in a bowl shape to keep the person stationary.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109635/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFkyV7d5t8o
]]>Feb 26th 2009 3:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6299-smart-tiles-add-reality-to-virtual-worlds.html]]>Feb 26th 2009 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/

ALSO Nintendo should be taking notes. before I saw the video my first thought was the Wii fit balance board 2.]]>Feb 26th 2009 3:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
I would love for Nintendo to do something like this, but I think the price would preclude it from a home console. It could be something for arcades or theme parks, though.]]>Feb 26th 2009 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
The system appears to try to forecast where you'll move, but that only works if you move straight ahead and make forward turns; you have to make gestures about your movement before the squares have to do anything about them. Practically, you'll need at least one more square in each direction just for immediate use, since you probably aren't going to have your feet together and step right in the middle of a square every time (and you don't want to slip off), in addition to the square you are moving to, and more unless the squares are REALLY fast and can tell exactly where your feet are. You'll really need at least one more in each direction, even if it only takes 1/2sec for the whole row of tiles behind you to move in front of you. And you'll need more rows if the response time is lower. So, the square you're mainly on, one more on each side for safety or your other foot, another for where you might step (a row of squares if it can't tell exactly where you are going to step or can't move fast enough to compensate for a sudden side-step), and more rows depending on response times. As you shift your weight from one square to another, you need another eight squares to surround it instantly, should you decide to put your other foot down.

The problem is for steps - the environment will need the horizontal space mapped in tile units, so a person doesn't step on a tile edge where a step down is indicated visually, but the physical tile doesn't end for another couple of inches. (A more comprehensive solution, but more difficult to implement, would be to use a bunch of smaller tiles, say, 4". 1" would be better, but these have to be self-contained after all.) The active tile will need to be a step above the underlying surface to allow for an upcoming step down, and as soon as a tile becomes active, it will need to move to the middle position. The next tile will need to be able to go a step higher, unless all steps are pre-planned; in a free-roaming environment, you should be able to step either forward or backward, either up or down, from your current location. And while the new "current square" will need to be able to quickly move to the middle level, the "previous square" will need to move as well, since your other foot is probably still near it and you need to keep the two steps in relative position. This may require a four-level arrangement, so that both the current (focus of weight) and previous (secondary weight) tiles can both have tiles above and below, to allow for a step back when the person was moving forward. Additional tiles in a flat plane isn't as much of a problem, as indicated before, but in 3D, it becomes more of a problem.

Which brings up another problem: Safety. What if somebody trips? Do they fall two-three feet and risk hitting the corner of a tile on the way down? Even if the system detects a trip and moves the tiles out of the way, somebody's going to get hurt. Unless the system moves the tiles IN the way to act as a floor. Since it seems enough tiles will be needed for movement, that shouldn't be a problem - since you're already simulating floor, just simulate enough floor for the body, not just for the feet. This could then be used intentionally - the tiles could even move somewhat to give a cushioned landing, on, say, a jump/fall from a height in the virtual environment; cushioning an accidental trip would be a side-benefit. Hmmm, this is getting more interesting... (But it will need MANY more tiles, not just four...)]]>Feb 26th 2009 3:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 6:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/
While for the sake of keeping the runner still in absolute space, the tiles will have to move at least as fast as the runner, the tile maximum speed could simply be listed as a system limitation/specification. Like calculations per second, dots per inch, etc.; it's not a limitation if it suits the needs of the implementation. The UI would obviously need some way to signal the user when the limit is being approached, perhaps with a visible horizon that approaches the user as he/she moves faster. When the user moves well within the system limits, the horizon is not visible. If the user moves fast enough that the horizon reaches him/her, then he/she will go over the edge... (The manual would have a disclaimer against any such injury, as the user was warned well in advance of the edge.)

The system will also have to closely monitor the runner's motions; you don't want the tiles to keep moving in the wrong direction when he stops or turns suddenly...]]>Feb 27th 2009 8:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 3:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7593444.stm
this could be a start for realistic environments]]>Feb 27th 2009 7:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 5:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/noise-canceling headphones]]>Feb 26th 2009 5:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 6:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 27th 2009 12:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/circulafloor-robot-floor-tiles-keep-you-moving-in-virtual-realit/Feb 26th 2009 5:44PM