Virtual reality that meets our expectations is finally happening with the Oculus Rift, and there are a handful of other companies, including Sony, announcing VR headsets as well. With the amazingly immersive graphics and reaction times, it's easy to focus entirely on the gaming side of virtual reality. But there's another component that's just as important to the experience: your surroundings. You can't chase virtual aliens if you're slamming into walls or tripping over furniture in this world.
To solve that problem, Virtuix was showing off its omnidirectional "treadmill" at CES, which allows you to travel around in 360 degrees without leaving a four-foot-square area. It's still in the prototype stage, but available for preorder and shipping later this year. They've also made sneakers that have a felt-like material on the bottom that reduces traction for a glide-like run.