An upcoming "VR horn" posted about on Twitter by Dimitri Diakopoulos, an engineer at Intel's Perceptual Computing Lab, looks as though it could be used to solve a major problem currently plaguing VR. Though the dream of VR's proponents is to create a fully immersive virtual world, such immersion causes hazards for users who are totally checked out from the physical world in which they are actually moving around. Details remain hazy, but the VR horn teased by Diakopoulos looks like a method for sensing the environment without impeding a user's VR experience.
To be sure, current VR platforms have strategies in place to sense the outside environment. For tracking users' hands, most headsets use controllers, and only the HTC Vive has an external obstacle detecting system (which requires software setup). The new VR horn could sense both a users hands and the environment, making it a simple add-on that brings real-world safety for a more immersive VR experience.
Depth-Sensing VR Horns
A New Attachment for the HTC Vive Could Aid in Environment Tracking
Trend Themes
1. Depth-sensing VR Horns - A VR attachment that enables environment tracking and enhances user safety in virtual reality experiences.
2. Immersive VR Experiences - Developing technologies and experiences that provide virtual reality users with a fully immersive and interactive environment.
3. Enhanced VR Sensors - Advancements in sensor technology that improve the detection and tracking capabilities of VR headsets for a more realistic experience.
Industry Implications
1. Virtual Reality - The VR industry can capitalize on the opportunity to create safer and more immersive experiences by incorporating depth-sensing VR horns into their headsets.
2. Gaming - The gaming industry can leverage depth-sensing VR horns to enhance the realism and safety of virtual reality gaming experiences.
3. Healthcare - The healthcare industry can explore the use of VR horns to provide more accurate and immersive simulations for medical training and therapy.