Games in virtual reality cause a lot of positive emotions, but moving in them is fraught with certain problems: the virtual character can move rapidly, while the player himself remains in place.
This inconsistency leads to motion sickness, and for those who truly move in the real world, there is a danger of encountering obstacles. Most games, including Half-Life: Alyx, use a teleportation effect where players are instantly transported from one location to another.
There are several ways to solve this problem, although not always comfortable for users. The American startup Ekto VR has unveiled its new product, Ekto One, a pair of lightweight robotic boots with two rotating plates at the bottom.
As the player moves forward, the boots slide in the opposite direction, keeping them in place, as with rollerblades. Ekto One is also equipped with a set of brakes that are activated when the user is standing still to prevent him from falling.
In the video presented, the device looks very impressive, but it was not without its drawbacks. The user has to move very slowly (it is not clear how to combine this, for example, with FPS games). Indeed, it is not so easy without the appropriate skills to move around the room in bulky robotic boots with two controllers in their hands and a VR helmet on their head.
Nevertheless, Ekto One has commercial prospects. The device is aimed at corporate users, so its serial version is expected to be further developed within two to four years.
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