Virtuix Omni VR Treadmill Lets You Run Around in Virtual Worlds
With the Oculus Rift having been in development for the past 2-3 years, and Sony getting ready to unveil details about its own upcoming entry into virtual reality (Project Morpheus), numerous startups and entrepreneurial inventors have begun contributing new inventions to the VR space.
So far, one of the most exciting accessories expected to accompany the advent of VR headsets is the omnidirectional VR treadmill, of which there are currently only a few prototypes in the works. By far, the most advanced and consumer-ready VR treadmill so far is the Virtuix Omni, the production version of which was shown off at last month's CES 2015.
Like most of the other conceptual VR treadmills out there, the Virtuix Omni utilizes the principle of low friction to allow the user to seamlessly slide their feet across the surface of the platform, thereby simulating basic movement motions like walking, running, crouching, jumping, and turning. The device is equipped with a hip harness within a ring that keeps the wearer stable and prevents them from stepping off of the platform.
What's New in the Production Version?
Like all prototypes, the concept version of the Omni had a few shortcomings that needed to be corrected before the product could become appealing to consumers. The production version showcased last month redesigned the hip harness for greater comfort and ergonomics.
The safety ring that the harness is attached to has also been made adjustable, so the user can raise or lower it to accommodate their height preference. The height adjustment feature and improved harness appear to be the biggest improvements over the concept version.
In fact, we predict that ergonomics and comfort will ultimately become the biggest comparison factor for consumers in the long-term, as running around for hours on a low-friction surface seems like it could cause great deal of discomfort in the hips and may even lead to repetitive stress injuries, just as conventional controllers have done to the hands of many addicted gamers.
Still, we're sure there will be no shortage of gamers willing to deal with hip-and-thigh-burn from a VR treadmill harness in exchange for the ability to run around in virtual worlds, and once the ergonomics are worked out it seems that this type of gaming will be much more active and healthy then the conventional sitting down a with a controller method.
In addition to redesigning the harness, Virtuix has also improved user tracking by adding tracking pods that can be attached to the user's shoes to provide an alternative to the previously employed capacitive tracking. By placing the pods directly on the user's feet the Omni drastically improves its tracking accuracy and efficiency.
When Will Consumers Be Able to Buy the Omni?
The Virtuix Omni is currently available for pre-order at the price of $699, which was raised up from $499 on February 1st due to the increased production costs of the recently unveiled consumer version. The original release date for the Omni was set for January, 2014, but the company has now listed the estimated shipping date as June 2015, although there is a note on their site that states this timeframe is “subject to change.” Still, it would be very surprising to see the release date postponed beyond the launch timeframe of the Oculus Rift, for which the Omni is meant to serve as an accessory.
That leads us to the question – how many consumers will be okay with paying $700 for a motion accessory to a VR headset (the Rift) that is expected to cost only $200-$300 at launch and is currently available in developer's version at $350.
Then there's also the fact that Virtuix is currently charging extra for the pre-order of the Omni shoes, tracking pods, harness, and accessory rack, all of which cost between $59-$79 extra, each. That puts the total cost of the whole kit with all accessories included at a steep $920+.
With that said, we do know that Oculus has been planning to distribute the headsets at or below cost, with the goal of making a profit off of the games, accessories, and services that will go with the device, so the Omni could be the first step in that direction.
To learn more about the Virtuix Omni, checkout the videos below:
