Mellott's VRBirdly in SF
I experienced a new type of simulator today in San Francisco at swissanex san francisco.
A system called Birdly allowed me to don an Oculus Rift with headphones on a simulator platform where you steer and flap your arms like wings. If you look left and right you see your wings. The system starts you off in the air near the Transamerica building. You then can dive, dart left/right, or climb like a real bird. The fan out front changes speed depending on if your descending or ascending. They even have a scent machine add on, which unfortunately wasn’t working.
The platform is controlled by electric motors and the entire system moves as you would expect. When you’re diving it pitches forward. When climbing it pitches back. One of the best VR demo’s I’ve experienced and a very clever system. It was really surreal to fly over San Francisco with wind in my face.
Birdly was built by Max Rheiner and his fellow team mates from Zurich University of the Arts. They’ll be in San Francisco until August 6th. I’d highly recommend booking the experience at the swissannex link above. You won’t regret it!!
They’ll also be at this years Siggraph.
