Current trends in navigating through virtual environments, whether they are common video games or immersive virtual reality applications, often rely on joysticks to handle movement through the world. For video games and applications such as Second Life, this keeps the invidual achnored to their desk with little mobility in their legs. For immersive environments the lack of a walking motion while moving through the virtual space detracts from the overall experience.

Virtual Products, L.L.C., an Ann Arbor company focused on the creation of unique devices improve human computer interaction as well as introduce products tailored to the exergaming market, contracted the University of Michigan 3D Lab to explore new input devices for navigating in virtual worlds. From this collaboration an early prototype of a ramp like device was created which allowed for fluid walking movements that were translated into keystrokes which were then fed to the application. Players could then walk through the environment instead of trying to remember complex key combinations to navigate.

The initial project has since been completed with the product seeking funding through Virtual Products, L.L.C. While the UM3D Lab is always exploring new devices, no additional development is planned on the VRamp project.