What are VR Shoes? Stepping into a New Era of Immersion

It seems that almost every area of the human body is catered for with smart technology, apart from our feet. Well, VR shoes. all of that is about to change, but perhaps not in the way you think. 

Many companies are already testing sophisticated spatial computing features to change our interaction with digital material. XR applications and interfaces are being developed with the input of artificial intelligence and innovative companies are even looking for methods to make wearables more lightweight, comfy, and practical. Most of all, these innovators are always on the lookout for new ways to make the whole Metaverse experience even better.

We already have haptic suits and tactile gloves that give us a real sense of experience when we touch things or get shot in games, but one of the major developments has been in the area of omni-directional treadmills, which allow users to ‘travel’ within the Metaverse, while not actually going anywhere.  

The ability to move around in the virtual world is now essential, and this can be achieved by one of two ways; by teleporting or by actual walking or running movement. Teleporting is a bit unnatural but without special means, it isn’t practicable to physically walk in virtual worlds. That is where omni-directional treadmills come in.

Usually looking like a flat square set on a box holding the internal mechanics of the treadmill, an omnidirectional treadmill is a mechanical device allowing users to move their legs over a 360-degree flat surface to enable entire flexibility of directional movement. Unlike other exercise devices, VR users may wear a helmet and utilise hand controllers—even while they stand, walk, jog, or run on the treadmill. The main problem with these kinds of treadmills is the cost; they tend to be very expensive items and are beyond the reach of many users.

So, back to teleporting it, unless another way can be found. Luckily, it seems that there is a third way in the shape of VR shoes.

More Than Shoes with Wheels

Developed by entrepreneurial company Freeaim, the virtual reality shoes come equipped with motorised wheels that are integrated in and can link to your extended reality headset. With them, you are able to travel around freely and risk-free across the metaverse landscapes. 

These have become a step closer to reality as a result of Freeaim’s announcement that it has successfully gathered more than $316 thousand in fundraising for its own creative kicks, which are scheduled to be launched this year. These shoes can provide users with a genuine experience of “walking” in virtual reality, and potentially at a fraction of the cost of an omni-directional treadmill.

Freeaim’s development has been in the works for quite some time, and some early beta testers have already tried out the early models. The fundamental idea behind these shoes is that they are equipped with motorised treadmills that are driven by artificial intelligence and positioned beneath the feed. This allows users to roam freely inside the virtual world without having to physically travel anywhere.

The shoes are compatible with the majority of virtual reality headsets and are supported by SteamVR. They are equipped with a network of sensors that are easy to understand and use. The fact that they make you feel as though you are moving in a natural manner while simultaneously forcing you back into a certain location is what this implies. The footwear has been designed to be lightweight and small, and it offers a customisable fit that can suit a variety of foot sizes. Additionally, it offers omnidirectional support that allows for lateral mobility and positioning adjustment. When compared to walking on a treadmill, Freeaim claims that they have a far more natural and steady sensation.

Of course, these are way more than just sneakers with wheels on and the technical development that has gone into them has resulted in prototype versions that would retail for around $5000 – actually more expensive than an omni-directional treadmill. However, Freeaim are hoping to significantly reduce costs when they productionise the shoes and have a market introduction target price of just $1,000, and probably reducing from that once production expands.

According to Freeaim, several beta-test users have said that the shoes have a more natural sensation than when walking on an omnidirectional treadmill. Many users have reported that a treadmill is more like “skating” than walking.  The virtual reality shoes offered by Freeaim, on the other hand, are more analogous to electric roller skates. They provide people the ability to walk endlessly in any direction, all while actually being stationary.

It’s a Growing Market

This technology may be relatively new, but that doesn’t mean that Freeaim are the only company looking at these kinds of shoes. There is also a lot of work going on in this field from other companies such as Cybershoes and Ekta VR are heavily engaged in similar projects.  

The fact is that these shoes are going to be game-changing in the growing Metaverse, and will effectively nullify tech like Omni-directional treadmills. That makes them very important since devices like this will allow endless smooth travel in the Metaverse without the user actually going anywhere. It also opens up the possibility of virtual athletics type sports where people have to run or walk, or a slew of casual tourism Apps that allow trips around city centers and iconic world heritage sites.

We at Unity Developers are looking forward to newspaper stories of people who have walked the entire length of Decentraland without leaving their bedroom. Look out for us reporting on it.