How to Buy Virtual-Reality Furniture

You've got the biggest home theater, the best video screen, and the fastest game system out there. Take the leap and immerse yourself in the action with a virtual-reality chair or motion simulator. These systems employ a motion track electronically keyed to the movie's sound track and literally move you, giving new meaning to poetry in motion.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Get a handle on your budget. Choices range from $50 for seat cushions, to digitally controlled platforms (like that of Odyssee Motion Simulator) that cost in excess of $20,000 and rock the entire sofa.

2. Find out how the furniture connects to the entertainment system. Most virtual-reality chairs are made for video games but will also connect to the speaker jacks of home theater systems. Just make sure that the person in the chair isn't the only one who can hear the sound.

3. Choose a chair system if you play a lot of video games. Most of these look like high-tech office chairs. They contain an array of speakers to surround you with sound and shake your innards in sync with the game. (If that doesn't sound like fun, you may want to skip virtual-reality furniture all together.)

4. Rock your world with a sofa-shifting system. Consult with a home theater specialist, as these require lots of space, extra components for the home theater, and actuators that generate the motion under your furniture.

5. Use the system for a good hour before you buy--watch an entire movie or play your favorite game. This way, the initial surprise of the effect will wear off, and you can decide if it truly enhances your experience.

Tips & Warnings

• Most virtual-reality furniture isn't available to try out at your local electronics store. That's unfortunate, since this is a product you want to try before you buy. If you buy online, make sure the seller has a good return policy.
• Check out sites such as HighTechHomeTV.com for information on more impossibly cool equipment.