Walking: fun. Leaving the house: not fun. Enter the virtual reality treadmill, a project by geniuses at Japan’s University of Tsukuba (go Panthers!). Alas, this apparatus appears to be for hospital-use only, as it’s aimed at rehabilitation programs (stroke victims, mostly). Still, I’m sure this setup might not be impossible to replicate with five or six HDTVs arranged in a semi-circle. I’d hang a few pine-smelling air fresheners for a true outdoorsy feel.

Hit the jump for a video of the treadmill in action.

[Newlaunches via Ubergizmo]