ZURICH, Feb 21 — From the ancient Greek legend of Icarus, to the Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci, flying like a bird has been a dream for mankind for generations.

Not anymore — thanks to this machine, an immersive full body simulator that recreates the sensation of flying.

Called “Birdly”, it’s the brainchild of a design research team of Zurich Arts University, whose member Fabian Troxler demonstrates its use.

A virtual reality headset recreates the views and sounds experienced by birds, which is convincing, according to visitors of the Geneva Lift15 Conference where Birdly is being showcased.

The urban setting is with a purpose, to educate the public on the dangers faced by birds every day.

While still in testing phase, the team sees different uses for Birdly in the future and hopes it flies in therapeutic settings as well as in the entertainment industry. — Reuters

This screenshot from the Reuters video shows a user testing out 'Birdly', a virtual reality flying sim that lets people experience the feeling of flying.