The longing to fly is almost as old as the human race. It’s illustrated in many failed attempts to mimic birds and other flying creatures. Somewhere along the line, we came to terms with the fact that a flying human may not be more than a dream and we turned to the aviation industry instead. Still, many investors are daring to push the boundaries and there have been numerous bold attempts to defy human bio mechanics. Such inquests led to the development of Birdly; a product of virtual reality, robotics, and simulation technology. This innovation delivers the ultimate flying experience, without actually flying, of course.
Design and features
Birdly is nothing like your regular flight simulator; it doesn’t use a joystick or other buttons that’ll take an age to master. Rather, it delivers the ultimate flight experience through coordinated hand movement. The hand movement shares a close semblance with the flapping of wings and manipulation of feathers in birds.
Birdly comes as a USB device that is simulated on a Unity Engine. The game employs interactive storytelling, giving users intimate and detailed views of cities, forests, landscapes, and virtually any other feature. According to the manufacturers, D3D Cinema is responsible for producing customized content for Birdly.
Birdly comes with a fan that speeds up as you go faster. There is also an olfactory module that mimics the smell of the region you’re flying over. These features serve to create a multi-sensory experience that stretches the limits of Virtual Reality.
How to use
The Birdly user lies face down on the custom designed table. The table supports the arms, chest, hips, and legs. Admittedly, the table may be slightly uncomfortable but the experience is more than worth the very slight discomfort. The head accommodates the rift and the arms are spread across the board, allowing them to act as wings.
As a player, you might be concerned about onlookers’ perception of you while operating the Birdly. But once you start flapping away and soaking in the unbeatable VR experience, your concern would easily melt away.
Controlling Birdly is easy as pie even for someone without any flight experience. Flapping the arms increases the speed, rotating the wrists increases elevation, and lowering or raising the arm directs the flight to the desired direction. All these movements are intuitive and you should have no problem getting a hang of them once you mount Birdly.
Pricing and availability
Birdly is ideal as a premium attraction at destination venues such as museums, aquariums, zoos, malls, theme parks, hotels, airports, cruise lines, retailers and visitor centers. Event promoters are Birdly clients, as are corporations and adventurous individuals who host unforgettable parties. Birdly mentions that their VR experience is a hit at conferences and provides a surefire way to draw a large crowd around a tradeshow booth.
Birdly can command a premium ticket, especially if placed in a highly trafficked area where it undoubtedly will draw a crowd. Most owners charge between $8 and $10 for a three-minute ride and have 15 riders per hour. Some seek sponsors to underwrite cost of ownership, selling tickets for less or including Birdly in a broader package. Visit the official Birdly website to know how you can buy, lease or rent their VR machine.
