What is the VR walking device "Holo Tile"?

With the recent advancement of VR technology, it is now being used in different fields.

For example, VR is already in practical use as a technology, being used in the medical field to simulate surgical operations and in education to simulate vocational training.

At the same time, the size of the VR market is expanding year by year, with the domestic market size estimated to be approximately 145.4 billion yen as of 2024 and predicted to grow by 48.32% over the next five years to reach 215.6 billion yen.

Amid this, Walt Disney Imagineering of the United States announced in January 2024 that it is currently under development, a VR walking device called "Holo Tile."

About Walt Disney Imagineering

Walt Disney Imagineering was founded by Walt Disney for the opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, USA in 1955, and is known for attracting a wide range of talented people, including illustrators, architects, and engineers.

Over the past 70 years, the company has developed technology and designed attractions for Disney parks around the world, from the ethnic costumes from around the world worn by the dolls in "It's a Small World" to the charming pirates in "Pirates of the Caribbean," to the sci-fi worlds of "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" and "Avengers Campus."

Holo Tile

The latest VR technology announced by one of the world's leading creative groups is "Holo Tile."

Holo Tile is the world's first omnidirectional, expandable moving floor that can accommodate multiple people. In other words, it allows multiple people to share a virtual space and each person can walk freely in any direction.

It has attracted attention as a way to create a highly immersive virtual reality and augmented reality experience. It was developed by Lanny Smoot of Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development.

He has held over 100 patents in the United States to date, and is known as one of the most prolific inventors in the history of the United States. He has been with Disney since around 1999, and 74 of Smoot's patents were held during his 25 years at Disney.

Some of the more well-known things Smoot has been involved in include the drive system for the Star Wars droid BB-8, the interactive lightsabers at the Star Wars Hotel, and the moving eyes for the animatronics. He has also been involved in the development of attractions such as the Fortress Exploration at Tokyo DisneySea.

In light of these achievements, he is the second Disney person to be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, after Walt Disney.

According to Smoot's own explanation of Holo Tiles posted on YouTube, although they do not move in physical location, the experience is that you are walking or running towards somewhere, so when combined with VR it makes it possible to walk around a virtual space while staying in a fixed position.

It is also the world's first modular and expandable treadmill floor that can accommodate multiple people and allows movement in all directions. Each person's position is fixed, so they can move independently without colliding with the person next to them. Depending on the programming, the platform on which people stand can be remotely controlled on the holotile, adding freedom to the movements of people standing in one position, which opens up endless possibilities for dancers and performers.

Remote control is also possible on Holo Tile

Holo Tile floor is still a technology that is attracting attention even while still in the research stage, but what kind of uses can be conceived when this technology is actually put to practical use?

First of all, it could bring innovation to Disneyland attractions. Disneyland always operates attractions that incorporate the latest technology.

By introducing Holo Tile, which can accommodate multiple people and move in all directions, into attractions, immersive attractions could be created where users can physically move around and explore the VR space, for example, a VR experience of the world of Aladdin riding Aladdin's magic carpet.

It is also expected that Holo Tile will be used to further upgrade shows and parades at Disneyland, such as dancers, performers, and Disney characters using it in performances.

Furthermore, by using them in exhibition spaces and experience areas, it is conceivable that they will play a part in giving users an interactive experience in the Disney world.

Since Holo Tile floor is a technology developed and researched by Disney, when they reach the practical stage, they are expected to be used first in Disneyland attractions, but at the same time, Holo Tile also have various possibilities in other fields.

For example, in business, companies can hold presentations and meetings using Holo Tile, which will enable more engaging meetings and presentations, and in actual business situations, using Holo Tile to display products and services will allow customers to experience the products in VR, which is thought to contribute to sales promotion.

The same can be said about the education. Creating a learning environment that introduces Holo Tile floor can stimulate students' interest, and field trips, which have previously been field trips, could become experiential learning in VR space, and it has the potential to help create healthier and safer exercise environments for sports and club activities.

In addition, in everyday life, if it can be used as fitness or exercise equipment, it will enable effective exercise regardless of the living environment, and in the entertainment field, it can be used as a platform to experience artists' live performances, movies, games, etc. in a more realistic way.

At this point, it is still in the research, so it may take some time to reach the practical stage.

Even if it is put into practical use, it is likely that it will be cost-intensive to make it a common technology in general.

However, Holo Tile is not only a technology with a wide range of possibilities; they are also a revolutionary technology that has the potential to raise the possibilities of VR experiences by one or even two levels.

It is certainly a technology worth keeping an eye on in the future as it continues to evolve every day and pioneer new fields.

VR-related gadgets are evolving every day

"KORG Gadget VR" - a music production studio in VR space

"KORG Gadget", a music production software that has been available for various environments from iOS to Mac, Plugin, and Nintendo Switch, is now compatible with VR space. 3D gadgets and sequence monitors are arranged in a 360° surround so that you can see each track just by moving your eyes. The VR space expands so that you can seamlessly create music as if you were touching it directly. Just put on a VR headset that is compatible with KORG Gadget VR and you will have your own personal music studio right in front of you.

"au Smart Glasses" - Smart glasses that can be used simply by connecting to a smartphone

KDDI has been promoting its VR/XR business by providing the "au Visual Guide," which provides visual explanations of exhibits at museums and exhibitions, and by partnering with China's Nreal to sell smart glasses such as "Nreal Air." The company's latest wearable device, "au Smart Glasses," was released on March 15, 2024.

There is no need to download or install a dedicated app; it can be used simply by connecting it to a PC, tablet, or more than 30 types of smartphones, including iPhones and Xperias.



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