How Geeks Play Video Games

When thinking of video games, a controller or keyboard usually comes to mind, but that’s yesterday’s technology…for some of us.

PlayAnywhere Interactive Display

PlayAnywhere is basically a “prototype interactive display surface that transforms any ordinary surface” into a gaming platform.

Computer vision technology is used to sense when the user touches the surface and to reason about other objects placed on the surface, such as game pieces

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Powered Shoes

Developed by Hiroo Iwata, Hiroshi Tomioka and Hiroaki Yano (University of Tsukuba), these “Powered Shoes”” are “mounted on top of a set of three motorized rollers” and “connected by cable to a computer on the user’s back.”

The fun doesn’t end there. The computer is also connected to a virtual reality helmet worn by the participant. So little to no room is needed to truly experience a virtual reality world where you can walk around anywhere

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Meta Mersion

MetaMersion is a “cutting-edge gaming platform designed to let you play your favorite PC-based game titles in a fully immersive, virtual reality environment.”

You “step inside” the game and move through the virtual landscape — just as you would do in the real world. You can: physically walk around; crouch and take cover behind virtual objects; shoot around corners; look up, down, and even behind you

Virtu Sphere

The VirtuSphere takes gaming to a whole new level, allowing users to walk inside a virtual space “while being totally immersed” — through the head-mounted display system. Built-in sensors detect movement and transmit that information to a linked computer. A special platform inside the sphere allows it to rotate in any direction as the user walks.

The VirtuSphere is currently the only technology in the world, which permits the user to move about in virtual space through the most natural movement of all – by walking.

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