In this blog post, we will look at how various sensory transmission technologies, such as HMD, VR gloves, treadmills, and motion tracking, create a realistic immersion in the metaverse.
The term “metaverse” is a combination of “meta,” meaning “beyond,” and “universe,” referring to a space where the real world and virtual space actively interact with each other. The metaverse is not simply a virtual world, but a new dimension where users can interact and share experiences within a virtual space.
A sensory transmission device is a device that transmits sensations set by avatars representing users in the metaverse to users. Through this, users can experience virtual space realistically and immerse themselves in the metaverse. For example, by wearing a virtual reality headset, users can immerse themselves in the virtual world unfolding before their eyes.
HMDs, which are devices that convey visual information, transmit images with a time difference to the user’s eyes, representing a virtual space. As the transmitted images are combined in the brain, users can perceive the three-dimensionality of the space and objects. This allows users to feel as if they are actually in that space, rather than simply looking at a screen.
Virtual reality gloves are devices that directly transmit sensory responses to the user’s hands as if they were touching objects in virtual space. Virtual reality gloves are designed to allow users to feel the size, shape, and temperature of virtual objects touched by avatars in virtual space. In addition, virtual reality gloves can move avatars according to the movements of the user’s fingers and arms. This allows users to interact with the virtual world in a more natural and intuitive way.
Meanwhile, users can enjoy a highly immersive metaverse experience by using a spatial movement device that transmits the user’s movements to the avatar. A virtual reality treadmill, which is a spatial movement device, is installed in a fixed space and supports the movement of the floor so that users can move in all directions. This allows users to reproduce the same movements as walking or running in the virtual world.
The motion tracking system used with the virtual reality treadmill is a system that synchronizes the avatar’s movements with the user’s movements, and consists of motion tracking sensors, inertial measurement sensors, and pressure sensors. Motion tracking sensors detect the user’s movements, while inertial measurement sensors measure the rate of change in the user’s speed and rotation speed. Pressure sensors measure the pressure exerted between different objects. If the user wears shoes with pressure sensors attached to the soles and runs, the pressure sensors detect the pressure between the ground and the soles of the feet, allowing the system to determine the force of the user’s running. When the motion tracking system transmits the user’s motion information to the computer, the computer controls the treadmill floor according to the direction and speed of the user’s movement. In this way, the movement of the treadmill changes according to the user’s movement, but the speed, direction, and incline of the treadmill floor also change according to changes in the virtual space environment where the avatar exists.
In addition, auditory and olfactory stimuli are also important for enhancing the immersiveness of the metaverse. For example, 3D audio technology allows users to hear sounds from various directions in the virtual world, further enhancing the sense of reality. Furthermore, scent generators can be used to deliver scents specific to a particular virtual environment, allowing users to experience the metaverse through a wider range of senses.
These various sensory transmission devices and technologies are combined so that the virtual space displayed on the HMD changes according to the user’s movements or changes in the treadmill’s operation, providing a more realistic experience for the user. As a result, the metaverse provides users with the feeling of actually being in that space and enables interaction with the virtual world through various senses.
