To provide a more immersive experience with the VR headset, one company is offering motorized shoes. They allow wearers to walk naturally to navigate games, without leaving their play space.
Movement is one of the biggest drawbacks of VR. In most games, players use controllers to move forward or teleport, which is much less immersive. There are omnidirectional mats that allow players to walk more or less naturally, like a smooth surface where you have to move your feet. However, they are expensive, take up a lot of space, and the user must be strapped to them. There are even some that are motorized treadmills, but these are more expensive and bulky.
Freeaim offers an alternative in the form of shoes that look a bit like snowshoes. All you need is a floor space of at least 2m x 2m. The shoes include: SensorsSensors which reveals a movementa movement And his tendency to compensate for it.
Freeaim shoes are used in this video to navigate Propagation Paradise Hotel. In English, enable automatic translation for subtitles. © Freeaim
SteamVR Compatible Shoes
When the wearer lifts one foot to step forward, the other shoe moves backward, staying in the same place. It can turn and even take a few steps sideways. At any time, the shoe can bring the wearer back to the center of the space if they get too close to the edges. It's not possible to undo any steps backwards at the moment, but the company is working on it.
The shoes work with any SteamVR-compatible headset and are compatible with most games. The company also provides a frame and strap to initially support the user as they get used to the movement, but it will only take 10 to 20 minutes to learn to walk in them. Pro customers can already get a pair of these shoes for $4,999, and the company hopes to launch a consumer version next year for $1,000.
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