A lot of companies are putting their chips in VR technology as the platform is slowly adding to the list of applications you can use it for. While giants like Meta, Sony, and Apple are developing VR headsets, Disney is looking into other VR gadgets like the omnidirectional treadmill.
Disney's VR Treadmill
In case you don't know what it is, an omnidirectional treadmill lets you walk in any direction as you stay in place. Called the HoloTile, Disney introduced the tech that was developed by a Disney research fellow and Imagineer, Lanny Smoot.
Unlike other omnidirectional treadmills, the HoloTile does not have a lot of equipment attached to it like straps or handlebars. It looks like a floormat made out of tiny puck-shaped rollers that shift based on the movement of the person using it.
Smoot says that the HoloTiles can support a number of movements like walking, running, and even dancing. No matter what the movement of the user is, the treadmill will always keep them in the area where the HoloTile is.
Amazingly, multiple people can walk on the HoloTile floor independently, and the technology will be able to detect individual movements as well. This is yet another factor that you won't be able to find in other available omnidirectional treadmills.
It's still unclear what it can and will be used for, but I'm sure that Disney will think of something it can apply the treadmill to. All that Smoot said was that there are "many applications for this type of technology," as mentioned in Kotaku.
The Imagineer added that people would be able to get somewhere else collaboratively as they do sightseeing, and this could be embedded into theatrical stages so that dancers could "do amazing moves."
Vituix Omnidirectional Treadmill
One of the treadmill options you can look into if you want to experience immersive gameplay is the one designed by Virtuix. The product is called Omni One, and unlike the HoloTile floor, the treadmill is more than just a couple of puck-like beads stuck together.
With the Omni One, there is an elevated platform that the player will have to stand on. It has an arm attached at the back of the unit which carries the straps that will keep the user in place. The strap is similar to how you would wear a backpack, along with the band for waist support.
While the HoloTile is superior when it comes to space use, the Omni One is better for a variety of movements made by the player. The arm that users are connected to detects various positions that can be important when it comes to playing video games.
For instance, you'll be able to walk, run, strafe, kneel, jump, crouch, and back up in all directions. The support also makes it safer than other omnidirectional treadmill options as there's a lesser risk of losing balance and falling over, which can be dangerous especially since you won't be able to see the actual space you're in.
