I used to have a Scifi idea for a screenplay once (not a very good idea, mind you) where a guy living a normal existence one day experiences a bizarre "glitch" and wakes up on a sliding platform exactly like this one. He soon discovers his entire life was a series of simulated events regulated by computers. It was a mediocre idea at best, but a lot of the idea was identical to Matrix in many ways even though I thought it up well before that movie came out. It's just really odd to see this thing actually working, and in my mind it was almost exactly what you see there.

*quality

Boosting this quality contribution up in the Hot Listing - declared quality by blankfist.

>> ^blankfist:

I used to have a Scifi idea for a screenplay once (not a very good idea, mind you) where a guy living a normal existence one day experiences a bizarre "glitch" and wakes up on a sliding platform exactly like this one. He soon discovers his entire life was a series of simulated events regulated by computers. It was a mediocre idea at best, but a lot of the idea was identical to Matrix in many ways even though I thought it up well before that movie came out. It's just really odd to see this thing actually working, and in my mind it was almost exactly what you see there.


Ah ye olde, or actually quite new, simulation argument.
http://www.simulation-argument.com/
and
http://www.simulism.org/Simulation
and
http://www.simulism.org/Simulism

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

I'm wondering what the machinery underneath look like.

I can see everyone in 20 years having an advanced variant of these that you can run on, is wireless, doesn't rely on a suspension cord, and is also wirelessly synchronized with VR goggles.

Excellent. One step closer to having my own Holodeck.

Engineering information can be found here:
http://cyberwalk.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/

Basically, it's a conveyor belt of conveyor belts.

>> ^rich_magnet:

Engineering information can be found here:
http://cyberwalk.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/
Basically, it's a conveyor belt of conveyor belts.

that's a cool and interesting solution.

what was so special about crossing legs or not crossing legs?

IT FEELS LIKE I'M REALLY WALKING!

All that effort to get nowhere...no thanks, I already have a career.

>> ^mxxcon:

>> ^rich_magnet:
Engineering information can be found here:
http://cyberwalk.kyb.tuebingen.mpg.de/
Basically, it's a conveyor belt of conveyor belts.

that's a cool and interesting solution.
what was so special about crossing legs or not crossing legs?


My guess, Breaks the illusion, and can potentially cause injury. I don't think that thing doesn't read how fast you're moving (i.e. you walk at a consistant 5 mph in whichever direction you face) and should you fall the conveyor belt would keep moving til you're off.. and then continue until someone stops it.

@Shepppard: You said "I don't think that thing doesn't read" so I'm not sure where the typo is in your double-negative, but I think I disagree with you (maybe.)

It definitely knows where the walk is, how fast they're going, and whether they're approaching one of the sides. The apparatus will correct the walker back into the center by speeding up in the necessary directions. In other words, if you fall down, it would just center you and stop.

In other, other words, the speed of the platform seems relative to the user's proximity to an edge.

That's how I'd code it anyway.