The Virtualizer at Gamescom 2014

Cyberith was one of the startups featured at this year's gamescom, held from August 13 to 17 in Cologne, Germany. The company showcased the Virtualizer, a device that takes virtual reality gaming to the next level.

The Austrian startup Cyberith GmbH was one of the featured exhibitors at the 2014 gamescom, a leading trade show for the games industry, held at the Koelnmesse in Cologne from August 13 to 17.

The company is the creator of the Virtualizer, an innovative, award-winning solution that provides users with a unique, fully immersive gaming experience. The Virtualizer is a locomotion device that lets users move around freely in virtual worlds and become a character in their favourite game, using their own body to control the game instead of joypads and keyboards. The next-generation omni-directional treadmill effectively allows players to become part of the game instead of just playing it. It is the first virtual gaming platform to offer 360° tangle-free rotation and a vertical free-motion ring to provide players with complete freedom of movement in virtual reality environments.

The Virtualizer combines high precision sensors with a revolutionary low-friction principle to let players walk through any virtual environment in real time. To give the experience an extra dimension, the device is equipped with vibration packs. When a grenade explodes next to a player, the Virtualizer lets him feel it.

With the Oculus Rift or a similar head-mounted display and surround sound headphones, the Virtualizer creates the perception for the player of being physically present in a virtual environment. It is simple to set up, has an easy-to-use interface, and is compatible with any software that supports controller or keyboard input. Along with delivering an immersive gaming experience, the Virtualizer software tracks players' average speed, distance covered, and calorie expenditure.

The device has an almost limitless range of potential applications. It can be used in training, psychological therapy, real estate presentations, or in educational settings, letting users walk through historic sites, on the Moon, or through a DNA strand.

Cyberith was founded by Tuncay Cakmak and Holger Hager, VR hardware specialists who develop solutions for private and professional applications. The Virtualizer was funded through Kickstarter and reached its goal with more than 25 days left in the campaign. The device made its debut in the United States at a special live demonstration held in Mountain View, California, on August 19.