Imagine playing your favorite shooter. All you see on your screen is the level and other players. No life bar, no weapon orientation, crosshairs, ammo count, no anything related to you current status in the game. The screen you're looking through isn't a monitor or a television. It's a pair of goggles you're wearing. When you look up, the screen moves up. Total and full freedom to look in any direction at any angle you could do. You start walking. You, standing on a platform, physically walk in order to move you character in the game. When you run, your character runs. So far so good right? You look around and move and your character in the game does the same. Now, in your hands you're not holding a controller. No keyboard or mouse either. In your hands is what appears to be the newest piece of military hardware. The blaze orange tip is a sure give away that this is not actually a gun (safety first kiddies). This represents your in-game weapon. Much like the light guns of old, when you aim at a spot on screen and pull the trigger it's as if you're firing your weapon at that spot in game. You lower your face to the scope and suddenly you're sniping now.Throw some enemies in now. You're bunkered in, waiting for them to storm your safe-house. You feel a slight vibration in your back as you're peering out a window. It grows more steady as you feel another vibration on the back of your right shoulder. As you turn the vibrations move on your body in the same orientation. You now feel it in the middle of your chest and the front of your left shoulder. They're growing stronger. You pull up your weapon, aiming for the doorway as the first of two enemies come storming in. You let off a series of shots. The soldier goes down, the vibrations stop. You know the other is near by, waiting for his chance. You feel it again as he rushes in. He lets off two rounds from his handgun before you can pull your weapon up. Now a sensation like a slight electric shock contracts the muscles in your chest. You bring your firearm to bear and finish him quickly. You feel a constant pulsating now. You have no visible life bar but you know you are dangerously close to death. You grab a health kit and the pulsing stops. While you were in no actual danger you were wearing a vest that in a sense allowed you to feel the same sensations you character felt. Not only did it convey your health status, it also acted as a motion tracker and relayed feelings of taking damage to you in the real world.
You win the game and step off you platform, set your gun down, and remove your goggles and vest. This was VR. Playing a video game with your actual body. Moving, seeing, and feeling just as your character did. It may seem something out of a futuristic movie but many of these technologies are becoming available today. With the Omni you are able to stand, walk, and run on a platform and have your character move in the same way. Vision is taken care of through the Oculus Rift or other such VR headset. While so far there isn't quite a gun as described, the Delta Six does a damn fine job simulating a firearm. Now that looking, moving, and aiming are taken care of how are you going to actually feel what your character does? The ARAIG vest is hoping to achieve just that. With a built in surround sound system as well you're also hearing every detail as you would in game. These projects, and many others are aiming to bring the fantasy of full immersion VR gaming to real life.
We are on the forefront of a gaming revolution. These new products are just the beginning. But they need our help. Through crowd funding we are able to help shape the future of what these products can bring to the table. There is even a project running to bring this experience into it's own gaming center. Open InnerSphere VR is hoping to bring this technology to those who either don't have the space or funds to create a VR center in there own houses. All of these projects are leading us to the next step of gaming. They are trying to do it in such a way that we, the gamers, have the best opportunity to help shape it. Please take a moment to follow the links above and help out if you are able. The greatest good you can do though is spread the word. Please share this post or their pages with anyone you think would be interested. Thank you.
Honorable mention goes to Myo. While not specifically built for gaming, there is a segment in the video where it is being used to shoot and change out weapons. Worth checking out.
