GIST Professor Jungwon Yoon's Team Draws Attention with Metaverse Walking Interaction Platform

Professor Jungwon Yoon's research team from the Department of AI Convergence at GIST is showcasing a metaverse walking interaction platform technology using an ultra-slim, ultra-fast 360-degree omnidirectional treadmill at the 2025 Metaverse Expo. Photo by GIST

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is hosting an exhibition where visitors can directly experience the potential of future interfaces through the concept of "walking together" in virtual space.

On June 19, GIST announced that Professor Jungwon Yoon's research team from the Department of AI Convergence is participating in the "METAVERSE EXPO 2025," which is being held at Hall C of COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, until June 20. The team is showcasing a metaverse walking interaction platform technology that utilizes an ultra-slim, ultra-fast 360-degree omnidirectional treadmill.

The technology unveiled by GIST is attracting attention as a new interface that goes beyond simple virtual reality experiences. It enables users to achieve sensory connection and immersion in virtual space through "walking together," a form of companion walking.

At the center of the "Immersive Experience Zone," which captivates the attention of visitors, is a unique scene where two people, standing side by side on the platform and wearing head-mounted displays (HMDs), walk together in a virtual space. This scene is made possible by the next-generation walking interface, the "omnidirectional treadmill," which provides an immersive experience based on actual walking movements, rather than simply viewing a virtual screen.

This device is a multi-user walking system that allows two or more users to participate simultaneously. Users walk on the treadmill while following a virtual path displayed in front of them through the HMD. Visual guides and walking speed indicators are shown in their field of view, and the system is precisely synchronized with their real steps, offering a sense of immersion as if they are truly walking within the virtual environment.

In particular, the structure that allows two people to participate together extends the experience beyond individual participation, enabling social interaction and sensory connection in virtual space. Visitors, whether friends, couples, or families, can walk together at their own pace or toward a shared goal, sharing a sensory communication and empathy experience that goes beyond typical VR experiences.

The technical sophistication of the system is also noteworthy. The system features an ultra-slim design with a thickness of 24 cm, maximizing space efficiency, and supports high-speed walking of up to 4 meters per second, enabling realistic movement simulation.

Inside, a planar helical transmission mechanism (PHTM) based on helical gears enables precise handling of direction changes and rotational movements, while also stably supporting simultaneous movement by multiple users. This allows for high-precision 2D walking simulation even in limited exhibition spaces, maximizing user immersion.

Professor Jungwon Yoon stated, "The walking interface we are presenting this time is more than just an exhibition experience; it is the result of reimagining interaction in virtual space in a more human-centered way. Through the process of two people walking together, matching their pace, and sharing a goal, we aimed to experiment with the meaning of 'coexistence' in the metaverse."