Located at Europe’s biggest water park, the Galaxy Erding in South Germany, the world’s first VR water slide takes the exciting experience to a whole new level by offering thrill-seekers the choice of three attractive worlds —Space, Sky, or Snow. By simply wearing a headset, riders can slide through a magical alien world, follow beautiful butterflies around floating islands or put themselves in a white winter wonderland. To make the experience even more heart-stopping, the 160-meter-long ride that lasts about 35 seconds has two uphill tracks that provide a roller-coaster-like experience.
While the tire slide, which has been successfully tested by almost 10,000 park goers since it opened in February 2018, is impressive, the technology behind it, developed by California startup Ballast is even more so. The specially-created waterproof headsets can be worn in water up to a few meters deep, without harming the delicate Samsung Galaxy S8 mobile devices that run the custom software for the VR experiences. The headsets also charge wirelessly (无线地), allowing park operators to swap out sets throughout the day.
The biggest challenge the company faced, however, was providing a suitable VR experience for everyone. That’s because unlike roller coasters, where the speed is fixed for all riders, water slide speeds vary depending on the weight of the person. To overcome the issue, Ballast fixed smart sensors (传感器) in important areas along the slide to keep track of the rider’s progress at all times. The information, conveyed through the headset, allows the custom software to adjust his or her location within the virtual world accordingly, making for a smooth, seasickness free ride for all.
Though Ballast is thrilled at Space Glider’s success, the company has bigger ambitions. They want to create an experience where guests will be able to swim underwater surrounded by virtual dolphins, whales, and even sharks, without wearing the heavy headsets!
【小题1】What can people do if they go to the Galaxy Erding?| A．They can swim with dolphins. |
| B．They can explore the outer space. |
| C．They can experience VR water slide. |
| D．They can swap out sets all day long. |
| A．The tire slide has been successfully tested so far. |
| B．Water slide speed vary depending on the age of the person. |
| C．Thrill-seekers take the exciting experience by wearing a headset. |
| D．The specially-created waterproof headsets can be applied in water. |
| A．The painkillers. |
| B．The fixed speed. |
| C．A sensor fixed in important areas. |
| D．Virtual dolphins, whales and sharks. |
| A．totally against |
| B．sorry to see |
| C．in favor of |
| D．neutral (中立) about |
