Coming soon, a holodeck in your home

Juniper Foo | Apr 17, 2008

The day is fast approaching when a holodeck in our living room is not so far-fetched after all. First demo'd at CeBIT 2008, the Fitness@home virtual training system is a first step toward a simulated reality facility, though we can hear Star Trek fans snorting at its baby attempts for now. Still, this brainchild of Berlin-based Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Architecture and Software Technology (FIRST) is the closest we've seen in conjuring up some virtual reality wizardry to place you anywhere you fancy. Mount Everest, if you plan to do some serious StairMaster climbing National Geographic-style. The Beijing Olympics, if you want to pit against China's hurdle champ Liu Xiang.

The outdoor training scenario is limited only by the program, which combines a stepper, specially designed projector and an oxygen mask that delivers individually regulated supply of oxygen and scents to create a virtual outdoor training center. In fact, the oxygen system can reportedly integrate with a range of fitness devices, from treadmills to even simulators for activities like boating, to provide a realistic and immersive experience. Even the projection system hasn't been spared. Images can be thrown onto any surface with pixel-precise accuracy up to a 4,096 x 2,048 resolution. That's almost the equivalent of the new 4K Digital Cinema technology emerging in our theaters. Ahem, computer, activate the Oahu beach, Hawaii Surf's Up program. And don't forget the Baywatch instructors...

Via Gizmag | Picture credit: FIRST

Filed under: Future Tech
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