The journey to Virtual Reality has been a slow one. Computer graphics are getting better, but they can’t fool anyone yet. Once we do have immersive visual environments, how will we explore them? For more than a decade we’ve had omnidirectional treadmills (ODTs) that allow someone to walk in any direction without moving from their location. As with all components of VR, these treadmills have improved slowly but we now have three distinct technologies that could work to fool your senses: torus treadmills, giant spheres, and moving tiles. Check out the virtually endless supply of ODT videos after the break.

While The Matrix movies taught us that true VR may require direct interaction with our brains, physical systems still have much to offer. Exploring virtual environments by walking or running is a useful tool in training soldiers, and emergency workers. The first documented ODT in 1996 was built for the US Army. ODTs in entertainment would allow video gamers to immerse themselves in the action. When combined with haptics and telepresence, ODTs could provide the means of creating virtual work environments, allowing researchers to explore dangerous or remote locations through the use of robots. The bottom of the ocean or the surface of Mars could be accessible through VR technology.
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