Video: The Virtusphere Revisited

Vice Magazine profiles the maker of the Virtusphere, essentially a stationary hamster ball for humans who want to do VR and interactive gaming.

Note: Sorry for the pre-roll ad.

1. [membrain]

   It needs to be:

   A) Much, much larger, so that the curvature within the length of one jump is negligable; as a rough calculation this would be at least a radius of 30 meters.

   B) Equipped with internal motion tracking by camera and full-body motion tracking in a suit to realistically replicate your movements in the 3D-world you are moving within

   C) A fine grained mesh of small-diameter air cannons around the insides so it is possible to replicate physical surroundings to a certain degree, e.g. an impassable wall, in which case the system would create a pressure, maybe not so high that you wouldn’t be able to move against it (that would probably hurt. aw!), but at least to signalise that there is a physical boundary. This would be a great feedback mechanism.

   D) The whole sphere needs to be:

   D1) Supported by servos

   and

   D2) A fine-grained mesh (1x1cm per unit/pad) of small inflatable pads

   in order to simulate different terrain, and may it be for a start just the elasticity.

2. [devophill]

   It needs to be:

   E) Quieter.

3. [pancakeroll]

   @membrain

   You need to:

   A) Come up with the concept and design it.

   B) Have the ability to either make it yourself or get the finance.

   D) Get out of your basement first!

   I’m sure it’s all babysteps so STFUP and respect that they have made this! I’m sure they don’t need your 6 point plan for making Virtusphere V2.

   So Congrats to Ray Latypov for getting this off the ground.

4. [Brian Moore]

   I went for a spin (haha, get it?) in one of these once.

   http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctabu/71382365/

   It was quite the experience.