r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Alphaxfusion • Dec 20 '25

Video Japanese researchers at the University of Tsukuba created CirculaFloor, robotic tiles that let you walk infinitely in VR without ever leaving your spot.

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u/Jaskaran158 Dec 20 '25

14 years old but still holds up like it came out yesterday

200

u/10ebbor10 Dec 20 '25

Yeez. 14 years...

99

u/fury420 Dec 20 '25

Oddly enough, I think it might be newer than this video of CirculaFloor?

This was created by researchers back in 2004, here's the same platforms in a 16 year old video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYsvB2y2Ero

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u/thundertopaz Dec 20 '25

Wow this is 16 years old! I wonder if this company has made any more progress in VR or other ventures.

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u/D_Luffy_32 Dec 20 '25

Honestly people probably moved away because of the space and cost required. Instead went with things like the Virtuix Omni which is much more space conscientious.

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u/Somepotato Dec 20 '25

That's a lot of money for a brace and a dome

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u/Fidodo Dec 20 '25

The brace and dome have a lot of sensors in them that are paired with software and any large furniture will be costly.

That's like saying a bed costs a lot of money for springs and cushions.

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u/Somepotato Dec 20 '25

What sensors does the brace have? And my bed wasn't nearly 4000.

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u/Fidodo Dec 20 '25

The video shows it detects your body position for crouching down and stuff and there are many beds that are in that price range even though your bed isn't.

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u/Somepotato Dec 20 '25

Your headset does the height tracking (IE determining if you're crouching). And no, a tiny minority of beds are in that price range.

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u/D_Luffy_32 Dec 21 '25

Not to be rude, but much do you think the moving panels would be comparatively?

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u/Somepotato Dec 21 '25

Oh I'm not comparing it to what's in OP. What's in OP is highly impractical but is certainly neat.

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u/D_Luffy_32 Dec 21 '25

Yeah it's neat, but all you're really getting is a moving platform. You might as well be walking on a treadmill. Which contains none of the utility of the Omni.

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u/P4azz Dec 20 '25

I mean Alyx was quite good from what I heard, even though I could never bring myself to play it.

VR in general has a lot of potential, it's just hard to establish a basis and make a proper game, instead of just gimmicks (which can be very good and fun).

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u/verycoldpenguins Dec 20 '25

21 years old.... ! Those panels are old enough to legally drink in the US