Walk this way
Hiroo Iwata, from the University of Tsukuba in Japan, and other groups are exploring different aspects of virtual reality. Iwata has previous developed multi-directional treadmills and powered roller skates, and demonstrated a new idea called String Walker at SIGGRAPH.
This system tracks a user's walk, allowing them explore a virtual environment on foot. Wheeled sandals keep the user walking on the same spot, while a network of strings and motors track the motion of their feet with each step.
The whole setup is mounted on a turntable, so that a person can swivel on the spot. See a video of the String Walker being demonstrated. Some participants at SIGGRAPH 2007 said the necessary walking motion took some getting used to.