VirtuSphere provides a mechanical basis for truly immersive virtual reality environments. Long gone are the cumbersome heavy head gears of the late 90's. Enter a new era where the user wears lightweight wireless head gear and every real step is associated with a virtual step.
The device consists of a large hollow sphere which is mounted on a specially mounted platform that allows the sphere to rotate freely as the user walks in any direction. The user wears a head mounted display which provides the virtual environment. Sensors under the sphere provide subject speed and direction to the computer running the simulation. Users can ever interact with objects in virtual space using a special manipulator.
Currently there are 18 VirtuSpheres around the world with more to come. Some of the foreseen applications are:
- Military, Law Enforcement, Dangerous Occupations training simulations
- Video Local Area Network Arcades
- Health and exercise, professional athlete training, fitness clubs
- Business and personal communications
- Education
- Virtual travel and tourism
- Virtual museum exhibits
- Entertainment at events
- Home gaming and exercise
The ability to move physically and thereby control the simulation is one of the enabling technologies behind such science fictional devices as the Star Trek holodeck. (Yes I'm a geek). The holodeck is a virtual environment that provides infinitely varied participatory, interactive entertainment in a very small space. On Federation Starships, stressed crew members need to have some sort of outlet for exercise and entertainment.
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