Gear up to take a step in the virtual environment. The EU-funded project CyberWalk is all set for real demonstrations and this will pave the pave for simulation of the most basic and natural of our acts – walking. We’ve had simulators for driving and flying for a long time but now it is the turn of walking to get its very own simulator. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics have been working at the task of making possible walking through virtual environments and they have positive results to report. A treadmill to be displayed in Tuebingen, Germany, this very month, will be the little platform for virtual steps. This treadmill – the CyberCarpet comes closest to emulating natural walking condition with omni-directional capabilities.
The question is why so much fuss over this seemingly huge development? Well, the potential of this technology is huge. The applications of this simulator exist in areas as diverse as engineering, tourism, education and medicine. The most obvious advantage is still in the field of simulating walks through a variety of environments. Software going by the name of CityEngine, when combined with CyberWalk will enable people to walk thorough environments from past and possibly even future. Gaming industry, too cold witness several applications of virtual walking.
Besides entertainment, people like firemen could be trained by creating for them virtual hazards. In medicine people suffering from various phobias could use this to overcome their psychological fears. So there you have it, as to why this breakthrough is being hailed so much. Anyhow the star attraction will still be able to walk through virtual streets. Can’t go to Paris? No worry, just rent the CyberCarpet!
via Cordis
