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Virtual reality's biggest enemy is bad virtual reality, says Oculus founder
Palmer Luckey can hardly take a step without being stopped for pictures, questions or just friendly handshakes. I'm not surprised; we're at the Silicon Valley Virtual Reality Expo, and Luckey just closed a speculative panel on the future of VR. Here, he's a celebrity, and with good reason -- the Expo floor is littered with Oculus headgear, almost without competition. As we make our way to a more quiet area, Luckey tells me that his hardware isn't enough. "What we have that's impressing all these hardcore gamers and technology enthusiasts isn't good enough to be a consumer product."
This treadmill lets you walk in any direction
No, that's not a detached tank tread you're looking at, it's a treadmill -- and it doesn't care which direction you're walking. It's called the Infinadeck, and we found it hiding in a dark corner of the Silicon Valley Virtual Reality Expo. Each of its tank-like treads is covered in a moving belt which, when used in tandem, gives the user the ability to stroll in any direction. The omni-directional treadmill has apparently caught the attention of CBS too, as a possible prop for filming on green-screen sets, but it isn't ready: the prototype still requires an active operator to change directions. It's also quite loud. Infinadeck says its trying to secure funding to build a more compact version with motion sensors, which should automate the process. Want to see how it works? Skip on past the break, videos await.
