Inventor | Jan Goetgeluk |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Virtuix Inc. |
Current supplier | enterprise |
Website | www |
Notes Released January 2017 |
The Virtuix Omni is an omnidirectional treadmill simulator for virtual reality games and other applications. It uses a platform to simulate locomotion i.e. the motion of walking, requiring both special shoes or shoe covers and a surface that reduces friction. It works in conjunction with the HTC Vive, and allows a Vive user to physically walk within a limited number of supported games.[1]
In 2013, the Virtuix Omni became one of the ten biggest technology Kickstarter campaigns, raising $1.1 million in funding.[2] Since then, Virtuix has raised another $35 million from private and institutional investors.[2]
Although originally stated to be released in January 2014,[3] production of the Omni only began in November 2015.[4]
Kickstarter backers began receiving their orders during the third week of January 2017.[5][6][7][8]
As of mid-2017 the company no longer offers this version of the Omni (the "Omni Pro") to consumers, instead supplying it for commercial use only. Virtuix has shipped more than 3,500 Omni Pro systems to date to over 500 commercial locations.[9]
An updated consumer version of the device, called the "Omni One" had been planned for release by the end of 2021,[10] though the first units were not shipped to investors until March, 2023.[11][12]