Cybershoes GmbH started off in 2015 with the intention to make users walk around in VR rather than using buttons or teleporting. Their first idea involved a standing solution. By the end of 2015, their concept included a VR Treadmill that they named 3D walker. The cybershoes were to be used over the 3D Walker and a bungee strap was used to connect the person and the treadmill. This solution was successful in implementation and allowed them to walk in VR. However, they soon realized that this solution was not very practical. Treadmills were huge, occupied a lot of space and were costly: to produce, ship, and buy.
In the summer of 2016, Michael BieglMayer (Owner & Inventor) worked in a garage that was very hot and he was too tired of getting in and out of the harness to test the product. So he sat on his chair wearing the Cybershoes and tested it. That's where the idea to have a seated solution was born. He learnt the hack that our brains are conditioned to assume we're standing when we walk and so this solution made sense to his team and him. Post which they worked on this idea and started a Kickstarter campaign in October 2018. The campaign was fully funded within four hours and had a total of 1006 supporters. Since then Cybershoes have been tested by various people in the industry and the units started selling since January 2019. |