Outside the Lines: Holodeck Conveyor Belt

Ever wondered how the characters in Star Trek could traverse seemingly endless landscapes in the Holodeck, despite it being a fairly small room? According to the Star Trek Wiki, "it does this by continuously adjusting the projections of the force fields and the use of a force field 'treadmill.' With this, an individual approaching a wall causes an instant shift away." Well, that's just crazy future talk, right?

Not anymore! Check out the omni-directional treadmill below, which may have significant applications for virtual reality. It's only a matter of time before we're saying "ARCH!" you guys. Or, if you're like me, you already say it quietly whenever things get surreal -- just to be sure.