The way that gamers navigate virtual reality environments could be completely changed by shoes that have motorized wheels. The clever kicks, which are currently being developed by the US/UK startup Freeaim, are basically tiny wearable treadmills.

While it's easy enough to replicate users' real-world head and arm movements in VR environments, walking is a bit trickier. A player can't possibly be traveling the same distance in real life—or at least not without bumping into objects—if they are walking the length of a virtual city block in a game, reports NewAtlas.

Some people claim that walking on these platforms feels more like skating or like pushing awkwardly up against the interior of a dish, according to Freeaim. Omnidirectional treadmills also need the user to be supported by a harness or wrap-around railing, and they are rather huge and costly.

On the other hand, Freeaim VR Shoes resemble more like electric roller skates.

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The startup claims that Freeaim's VR shoes work with all SteamVR headsets, making them a much more affordable and practical option. Every shoe resembles a sophisticated roller skate since it has two modules, each with four driven wheels. The wheels move in the opposite direction as the direction you are moving, because they are omnidirectional. This lets you remain where you are in the VR game, or within a specified two-by-two-meter area, no matter which way you go. At last, you may move around freely in a virtual reality game or other experience without worrying about hurting someone outside of it.

You can’t order Freeaim’s shoes just yet. The company has just made the device available to developers for the rather high cost of $4,999. Fortunately, a more affordable consumer version is said to be on the way. The company hopes to release a $1,000 pair for VR gamers sometime next year.