Who Needs Magic Carpet? TMU Has Virtual Body Chair
From: PhysOrg.com - 12/21/2012

Virtual body technology developed at the Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU)
uses the five senses to recreate experiences such as feeling the wind,
stepping on the ground, or smelling food. The team of researchers at the Ikei
Laboratory and from the Graduate School of System Design developed a system
that includes a three-dimensional monitor, headphones, a fan to create a
breeze and spread scents, a chair that leans back and forth and vibrates
partially, and foot pedals. The components work together as a unified system
to stimulate the senses of the individual sitting in the seat, to provide the
ultimate virtual experience. The chair moves to provide directional and
vestibular sensations, and the legs will move to create a sense of walking,
running, and moving up and down. "When you walk in the city there are various
scents and breezes, and these are also recreated," says TMU professor Yasushi
Ikei. The team is targeting the virtual body system as a suitable application
for the elderly. In a video presentation, the narrator says "in these modern
times the population is aging, so Ikei Laboratory would like for seniors who
find it burdensome to go outside to be able to experience traveling around
the world by using this equipment."  

Read the entire article at:
http://phys.org/news/2012-12-magic-carpet-tmu-virtual-body.html
(webpage doesn't seem to load correctly)

Links:
Ikei Laboratory demos unique Virtual Body Technology (with video 2:31)
http://en.akihabaranews.com/121925/displays/ikei-laboratory-demos-unique-virtual-body-technology

"Virtual body technology" lets users walk in someone else's shoes
http://www.gizmag.com/virtual-body-technology/25547/

Virtual Tech Lets You Swap Bodies
http://news.discovery.com/tech/virtual-tech-lets-you-swap-bodies-121227.html

Tokyo Metropolitan University Graduate School of System Design
http://www.tmu.ac.jp/english/academics/graduate/sd.html