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Summer 2009

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10 summer 2009 10 summer 2009 10 10 F or those of you who are tired of button-mashing and are looking to take your gaming experience to a whole new level, or merely looking to add a little spice to your typical workout, welcome Virtusphere, Inc. After 45 man-years, they have developed a functional, easy-to-assemble plastic sphere and base platform that fi ts inside a large living room. Just put on goggles and climb into the sphere, and you're interacting in the virtual world. Because you're in a movable sphere, you can jump, run, crouch, look around, and walk without having Virtual Reality r esearchers from several universities in the uK have teamed up to develop an immersive virtual reality headset that stimulates all fi ve senses. Designed for maximum realism, the Vr helmet will be equipped with high defi nition video, surround sound audio, special tubes that spray simulated tastes and scents into waiting mouths and noses, a fan that blows air to create hot or cold temperatures; and tactile devices for simulating touch. A mock up of the Virtual Cocoon was showcased at Pioneers '09 on march 4th, a technology conference put on by the engineering and Physical sciences research Council at London's Olympia Conference Centre. In a press release by the ePsrC, project lead David Howard of the university of York says: "Virtual reality projects have typically only focused on one or two of the fi ve senses — usually sight and hearing. We're not aware of any other research group anywhere else in the world doing what we plan to do." The researchers estimate that it will take at least fi ve years before a commercial model of the Virtual Cocoon is available for purchase. They hope to have it on the market for about 1,500 pounds, a little more than $2,500 usD. Virtual Cocoon Tristan Guillford THeY're CALLING IT "reAL VIrTuALITY." CLImB InSIDe a Photo courtesy of Virtusphere, Inc. you can jump, run, crouch, look around, and walk without having and Physical sciences research Council at London's Olympia Conference Centre. In a press release by the ePsrC, project lead David Howard of the university of York says: "Virtual reality projects have typically only focused on one or two of the fi ve senses — usually sight and hearing. We're not aware of any other research group anywhere else in the world doing The researchers estimate that it will take at least fi ve years before a commercial model of the Virtual Cocoon is available for purchase. They hope to have it on the market for about 1,500 pounds, a little more Photo courtesy of Virtusphere, Inc.

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