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VR Shoes
ILLUSTRATION BY CAROLYN RIDSDALE; ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES (VR HEADSET)
FREEAIM
HEFTY PRICE TAG: Businesses can now buy Freeaim’s VR shoes for $5,000. The company plans to release a $1,000 version for consumers.
Imagine strolling past the Eiffel Tower in Paris or hiking the Grand Canyon in Arizona—all without leaving your living room. That’s now possible with the help of new shoes developed by the company Freeaim. This high-tech footwear pairs with a virtual reality (VR) headset, allowing users to feel like they’re actually walking through a 360-degree virtual environment. The motorized shoes act like treadmills strapped to your feet, so users can walk, jog, and sidestep while staying in one place.
Inventor and company CEO Ashley Foxcroft developed the shoes because he was frustrated that he couldn’t move freely in his favorite VR games without bumping into a wall in the real world. “With Freeaim shoes, you can walk around without limits,” says Foxcroft.