If you’ve been looking for a way to spice up your exercise regimen (and you happen to have a VR headset lying around too) you’re in luck. VirZOOM, the company behind the $ 400 “VZ Bike Controller” – a full-size exercise bike that was developed for use with VR headsets out-of-the-box – has just got a new one at this year’s E3 VR exercise peripheral called “VZ sensor.”
The VZ sensor is a small, $ 90 device that clips directly to the crank of a stationary exercise bike, essentially turning it into a standard VirZOOM bike, but at no additional cost. This of course makes the device ideal for anyone who either already owns their own exercise bike or uses one at their local gym, as long as the gym doesn’t have a strict “no funky looking glasses” policy.
VirZOOM is a small startup trying to combine virtual reality with training by using the company’s 7 available VR titles, which range from normal biking to Pegasus driving or helicopter piloting. They also offer a free SDK.
The VZ sensor’s portable nature and more accessible pricing should open this up to more potential users than the company’s previous offering of full size bikes, but there are some downsides. For example, certain games require holding a controller (the full-size VirZOOM bike has built-in controllers) and users first have to spend the extra batter for a VR headset.
Speaking of VR headsets, the VZ sensor will support most of the most important headset options right now – PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift, especially with compatibility with Google Daydream.
All in all, the VZ sensor is certainly an interesting idea. And if there’s anything out there for any of the E3 testimonials out there, it should be pretty fun to use, too. The VZ sensor doesn’t have a final release date yet, but it’s slated to arrive sometime this fall.
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