With all the recent excitement about upcoming virtual reality headsets, many observers have still worried about a pretty basic problem: the inability to see the world around you when your eyes are encased in a vision-blocking headset. A new prototype of the SteamVR-powered HTC Vive being shown at CES this week aims to solve that problem with a forward-facing camera that can integrate views of your surroundings with virtual reality scenes.
The HTC Vive Pre, the second dev kit offered by the company, will be used by many developers working on software before the planned rollout of the consumer version in April (
after a recent delay from "2015"). While the Pre isn't representative of final hardware, it seems much closer to a complete consumer device than
the rough prototypes we first saw last March, which featured lots of exposed wiring and clunky design touches.
The biggest new feature on the Pre is the front-facing camera, the main purpose of which seems to be the ability to orient yourself in the real world without having to briefly lift up the headset to have a look around.
A hands-on look from The Verge describes how the external real-world view turns on automatically when you reach the edge of the system's tracking volume, offering a faint black-and-teal view of your surroundings that lets you see objects and patterns like walls. You can replace the VR world with a full view of your surroundings in "chaperone mode."
The camera will also allow augmented-reality style blending of the virtual and real worlds in games and apps, though developers don't seem to have any examples of that feature up and running just yet. "Being able to take a seat, find your drink, and carry on conversations without removing your headset is only the beginning of what’s possible," HTC said in a statement.
Oculus has also made
a number of computer vision acquisitions that suggest it might be interested in similar "inside-out" cameras for tracking and real-world views in future headsets. Samsung and Oculus' Gear VR headset can use the front-facing camera in the Galaxy smartphones to view your surroundings, but this feature requires hopping out of the game world and into a system menu.
HTC is advertising a few other refinements for the new Vive Pre dev kit. The jagged pyramid of IR lights atop the original Vive dev kit controllers has been replaced with a smooth tracking ring that sits like a halo above the hand. A new dual-stage trigger allows for "smoother" interactions with objects, according to HTC, while haptic feedback should give players some idea of how virtual objects feel in their real hands.
he new controller also has "updated ergonomics and softer edges, greater balance, new textured buttons... grip pads for a more comfortable feel in the hand," and rechargeable lithium batteries that can last for four hours on a single charge, HTC says.
As for the headset itself, HTC says it's now more compact, with a brighter display and "image refinements [that provide] increased clarity." A system of interchangeable foam inserts and nose gaskets will help the unit be comfortable on any face, even for users with glasses, HTC claims.
We've been
extremely impressed with the room-scale VR experience provided by the HTC Vive every time we've been able to try it. These refinements sound like a strong step from the existing "tech demo" phase to an actual consumer product. We just hope the current April street date target doesn't fall into the usual "Valve time" trap of endless delays and promises that it will be "ready when it's ready."
