Virtual reality is an unstoppable trend and more and more companies are jumping on the bandwagon creating their own VR devices. This infographic shows the current development and a few fun facts about the top VR headsets that are in development today.
While cloud storage is more and more commonplace, the VR scene is about to heat in 2016. Here are our top contenders:
1. VR Headset: Oculus Rift: Platform (PC)
Hardware Specs:
- OLED Display with a resolution of 1080×1200 per eye (2160×1200 total)
- Refresh rate of 90 MHz, 6-axis positional tracking and 110 degrees of FOV
- One HDMI port and 3 USB 3.0 Ports
- Constellation, a separate infrared camera which tracks the user’s head position and movement down to sub-millimeter accuracy
- Oculus Touch; a pair of two touch-button joysticks which feature in-game to real world correspondence in full 3D
Short History
Lucky Palmer came up with the idea of creating a VR headset for PC gamers which was inexpensive. After checking it out in action, legendary Doom developer John Crack gave the project his full backing. Two years later, Facebook bought off Oculus Rift for a combined total $2 billion USD.
Fun facts:
- The first ever Oculus Rift ready game was Doom 3: BFG Edition
- The first properly working prototype was put together using duct tape
- The Oculus Rift can play games, watch movies, run training simulators and features built-in user replaceable headphones
- The Rift got funded in under 24 hours on Kickstarter, for a whopping 2.4 million (the goal was 250,000)
2. VR Headset: Project Morpheus: Platform (PS4-VITA)
Hardware Specs:
- OLED Display with a resolution of 960×1080 per eye (1920×1080 total)
- Refresh rate of 120 Hz, full 6 axis tracking and stereoscopic 3D video and sound
- 100 degrees FOV (Field of Vision)
- The headset also outputs to TV so everyone can share the player’s experience.
- Plays content at 120 FPS and features an RGB sub-pixel matrix
Short History
The Morpheus began development around the same time the Oculus Rift started gaining fame, and Sony’s Shuhei Yoshida finally revealed his company’s flagship VR project on March 18, 2014.
Originally designed to work with the now almost completely forgotten PlayStation Move peripheral, Morpheus is set to become the premier way to enjoy the PS4 and Vita consoles.
Fun Facts:
- Morpheus is actually Sony’s second ever head mounted VR project, the Glasstron preceded it in 1997
- There 23 games currently in development for Morpheus (including Surgeon Simulator, Ark: Survival Evolve, Project CARS and Among The Sleep)
- Project Morpheus got its first public demo on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
3. VR Headset: Samsung Gear VR: Platform (Galaxy S4, S6-S6 Edge)
Hardware Specs:
- QuadHD Super AMOLED (2560×1440 via the Samsung S4)
- Stereoscopic 3D sound (earphones required) and 96 degrees FOV (Field of Vision)
- 60 FPS (frames per second)
- Features a gyrometer, accelerometer, proximity and geomagnetic sensors
- Micro USB port to connect with the S4, Back, Home and Volume buttons
Short History
The Samsung Gear VR is co-developed by Oculus Rift in conjunction with Samsung. The first model was announced on September 3rd, 2014. An updated version now compatible with S6 and Edge 6 was revealed at the 2015 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Fun Facts:
- The Samsung Gear VR can be bought directly from the Oculus Rift Store
- The Gear VR comes with a 16GB SD card bundled-in-and features like VR ready trailers and 360-degree movies
- The Gear VR Innovator Edition is for tinkerers and enthusiasts
4. VR Headset: HTC Vive: Platform (PC-Steam Box)
Hardware Specs:
- AMOLED Display with a resolution of 1080×1200 per eye (2160×1200 total)
- Refresh rate of 90 MHz, 6 axis positional tracking and 110 degrees of FOV (Field of Vision)
- Plug-in headphones for hi-fidelity sound audio experience
- Gyro sensor, accelerometer and lasers are used to track the player’s position
- Lighthouse Base stations
- VR game controllers in each hand for spatial handling of virtual objects
Short History
HTC Vive is the brainchild of Valve and HTC, set to be released in November 2015 (unconfirmed). The original version was demoed by Valve in 2014 and the Vive as we know it right now debuted at the World Mobile Congress on March 1st-2015.
Fun Facts:
- The OpenVR SDK is designed to support the Vive and is open to any enthusiasts
- HTC Vive Developer kits are free for registered developers
- Unreal Engine 4 now supports the Vive
- HBO, Lionsgate and Google are developing content for the Vive
- The HTC Vive is actually designed for free movement in a 15×15 environment
The VR scene is about to heat in 2016, and these four Virtual Reality headsets are leading the charge. Will they truly change how we view, play and interact with our media, or become another bygone gimmick like motion control?
We can only find out after strapping them on, so onwards we march into the future of entertainment!
The official article was published at https://www.cloudwards.net/top-virtual-reality-headsets-and-their-breakdowns/ .