While virtual reality devices are anything but cheap, it doesn’t stop companies from coming up with all sorts of gimmicks to spread the use of this technology. Enter the Superman virtual reality coaster at Six Flags.
This roller-coaster ride is something of a cross between virtual reality and augmented reality. Park-goers strap on a VR headset powered by a Samsung Galaxy S6. The graphics aren’t the best but they do the job.
Combining the physical sensation provided by the roller coaster and the VR visuals helps to amplify the experience. The VR part was designed to be “unbound” where railings or a perceivable pathway is nonexistent. Because of this, according to The Verge, a 68-degree drop would feel like a straight 90-degree drop instead.
The technology was developed by German company VR Coasters, which has outfitted parks around Europe and the US. They equip trains with a sensor package that tracks the revolution of the wheels to determine where exactly people are on the ride. Because of this, the story told in VR unfolds in a synced and fluid way. Alfred Bayle