Cybershoes enable VR users to physically walk, run, and jump for $400

Physical locomotion has remained one of virtual reality’s larger challenges, as things like real walls and tethered headsets tend to inhibit a user’s ability to walk endlessly through digital environments. Rather than asking people to rely on handheld controllers, several companies have come up with foot-based solutions ranging from treadmills to rocker boards — now an Austrian company called Cybershoes is releasing an alternative that places sandal-like controllers on your feet, paired with a special carpet and one of three optional chairs.

The most basic version of Cybershoes sells for $400 and comes with a circular carpet you can place beneath a self-supplied rotating chair. One sandal straps on to each of your feet, using RF rather than Bluetooth to send positional data to a receiver at your computer as you move. In addition to orientation tracking, the Cybershoes use rollers to judge depth motion, and have grips to provide some traction for turning. Each sandal has a battery for eight to ten hours of usage on a three-hour micro-USB charge.