{"id":760670,"date":"2025-11-27T12:55:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T12:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pNMTx7CzVQmwiAQWV9a43Q"},"modified":"2025-11-27T12:55:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T12:55:53","slug":"honda-reckons-its-segway-like-wheelchair-can-deliver-the-peaceful-feeling-of-floating-in-the-sky-when-paired-with-vr-and-isnt-just-for-people-with-mobility-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/honda-reckons-its-segway-like-wheelchair-can-deliver-the-peaceful-feeling-of-floating-in-the-sky-when-paired-with-vr-and-isnt-just-for-people-with-mobility-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Honda reckons its Segway-like wheelchair can deliver ‘the peaceful feeling of floating in the sky’ when paired with VR and isn’t just for people with mobility issues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Creating technology for the purpose of helping people with disabilities is a noble goal and one where strides seem to be being made<\/a> to make the world a more accessible place for all. However, Honda reckons its UNI-ONE Segway-like device isn't just for people with mobility issues, as the company has released a video showing someone having a whale of a time in one equipped with a VR headset.<\/p>\n

In an interesting example of repurposing functional technology for entertainment purposes, the UNI-ONE, Honda's self-balancing mobility solution first demonstrated in 2023<\/a>, has been pitched as a “brand new multimodal experience that takes extended reality technologies to the next level” with the addition of VR (via Gizmodo<\/a>). The company will be showing off the device at SXSW, inviting attendees to ride the UNI-ONE while wearing a VR headset and shifting their body weight to steer.<\/p>\n

According to the press release<\/a>, experiences will include “the peaceful feeling of floating in the sky” or “the exhilarating feeling of gliding along a half-pipe path”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The company envisions people enjoying the experience in indoor and outdoor “obstacle-free spaces”\u2014which strikes as a necessity rather than an option\u2014including theme parks, entertainment facilities, and shopping malls.<\/p>\n

Honda also wants to collaborate with AR and VR developers to create VR experiences that make use of UNI-ONE's free-flowing movement, and in the accompanying video, our intrepid test-ee certainly seems to be having a good time using a headset with the device, stretching out their arms and grinning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can almost hear the “wheeeee” as they glide around the (noticeably obstacle-free and spacious) test room.<\/p>\n

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