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Virtualization

Photos: Strolling down a virtual sidewalk

By Bill Detwiler

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Power shoes
Power shoes
Photos: Strolling down a virtual sidewalk

Candace Lombardi/CNET News.com

A student group from the virtual reality lab at the University of Tsukuba in Japan has developed shoes that allow the wearer to walk through virtual worlds. Right, Hiroshi Tomioka, one of the developers of the powered shoes goes for a virtual walk.

Candace Lombardi/CNET News.com
Photos: Strolling down a virtual sidewalk

Here’s a closeup of the sole of the shoe. Three sets of motorized rollers drive the skate backwards in time with the pace of the walker to cancel his forward motion and remain in place–similar to a treadmill. Direction is changed by rotating the computer and monitor around a circular track on the floor.

Photos: Strolling down a virtual sidewalk

The virtual walker must use the monitor to see where he’s going.

Image of Bill Detwiler
By Bill Detwiler
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show.