The Omni is a 360° trackpad that converts physical movements into virtual steps; it allows users to experience the immersion of virtual-reality gaming by using their own feet. This is no boring treadmill with a moving belt, but rather a slippery-sloped surface that slides your feet back to their original position as you move forward, akin to moonwalking in a bowling alley. Omni works in tandem with 3D virtual-reality headset displays, such as the Oculus Rift, to allow 360° freedom-of-motion and preserves the sense of direction when viewing large panoramic visuals.
Pairing the Omni with the Oculus Rift results in true virtual reality.
For the first time ever, complete virtual reality at home
Two components are needed to achieve virtual reality: a 3D display translating a person’s head movements into the avatar’s head movements inside the virtual space, and a means of emulating physical activity/distance. The Oculus Rift fulfills the first criteria, and the Omni is the first consumer-centric motion interface to fulfill the second.
Omni is affordable and practical, able to collapse for easy storage. Until the creation of these two devices, there was no low-cost alternative to warrant home use. The success of Omni’s Kickstarter campaign is in a way directly attributed to its integration into the Oculus Rift.
Stay healthy while enjoying your hobbies
A massive amount of sitting is inevitable in the developed world: sitting on the drive to work, sitting at work, sitting on the drive home, and once again sitting at home. There are some alternatives, such as a standing desk, but they don’t make up for the vast amounts of sitting we do. Enjoying evening computer usage or video gaming is practically guilt inducing after a full day of sitting, yet the Omni can turn this inevitable vice into a physical activity with obvious health benefits. Omni feels like a 360° treadmill with immediate speed control.
How does it work without a moving belt?
Movement across the Omni platform is extremely fluid for two reasons: The platform is very low friction to enable easy sliding, and a special pair of shoes is worn with pins that fit into grooves embedded along the surface, to stabilize footfalls and prevent unwanted lateral sliding. While this may sound awkward with mere words, the resulting movement is quite natural.
Omni weights 110 lbs in its present incarnation, and its outer diameter is 48 inches. The inner ring is adjustable to accommodate a range or heights between 4 ft 8 in. and 6 ft 5 in. To prevent falls, a support belt is attached to the inner ring by way of flanges; the belt supports up to 285 lbs.
Compatible with all PC games
Due to the way it tracks keystrokes, Omni is compatible with any game or app that uses keyboard and mouse. Proprietary software records and translates footfalls into the keystrokes that control the game avatar.
Omni’s software is also compatible with the Microsoft Kinect, as well as with future accelerometer or magnetometer solutions. Omni can thus be used for virtual museum tours, meetings, and other purposes outside of gaming.
Visit Omni’s Kickstarter page for all the details.
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