Both LG and Samsung
are already working on their own virtual reality headsets, and other
manufacturers such as Sony
and Carl
Zeiss are doing the same. So in order to make a lasting impression, a new
comer needs to do something different.
And this is exactly what HTC did with its Vive VR headset. For
starters, the Vive doesn’t use an HD camera to track a user’s movements.
Instead it uses several sensors including a laser position tracker, which when
combined with a gyrosensor and accelerometer can accurately track the movement
of a user’s head to an accuracy of 1/10th of a degree. The Vive also
goes with a pair of Steam VR base stations that track your physical location in
spaces up to 15 x 15 feet.
In terms of video, the Vive sports dual Full HD displays for
both eye that features a refresh rate of 90fps and displays photorealistic
images, which according to HTC will eliminate the jitter issues found in other
brands’ offerings.
As you may have noticed, HTC has partnered with Valve in the
development of this VR headset, which means the device will have access to
games developed by the brand on top of the content their partners such
Cloudhead Games, Dovetail Games and Fireproof Games will make for the headset.
As with other VR headsets, the Vive’s shipping date and
price haven’t been announce yet. Nevertheless, HTC’s entry into the VR scene is
a good sign that the development of the technology is progressing.
