Why go through all this trouble?

Has this all not been done before?

Well, yes and no. There are many veriations on how to implement VR and AR, some are more effective than others, but they all have limitations. Systems that are designed for full motion tracking are limited to a specificly built room and are very expensive to construct and maintain. Virtual Wiialtiy Redux is intended to work in any room.

On the right is a immersive VR system developed at York University by Wolfgang Stuerzlinger.

The typical computer interface of display, keyboard and mouse has not remediated as fast as other forms of interactivity. It has been frustrating to be dependant at a screen and using point-click interface to immerse one's self into a 3d environment. Because the technology that would allow us to go beyond that exists.

The technology exist to be able to learn to fly a plane without ever leaving the ground, but it is limited to those with access. As an example, this project can be further applied to run more than a mere simulator, it could be used control a camera on a model aircraft for a pilot's view. The sixaxis has already been used to fly an actual model aircraft.

Lastly, not only is this benificial for VR/AR enthusiast, it has been a great learning experience and fun!