Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Headsets: What Are They…

What makes virtual reality and augmented reality so exciting is that the potential is now becoming clearer. These technologies, while still in their infancy, have reached a stage similar to that of cinema at the beginning of the 20th century, or television in the 1930s: they are a new kind of media, a new way of seeing the world, that is gradually taking shape.

At the same time, VR and AR must move beyond these “fun” visions if they are to become ubiquitous technologies. Over time, virtual roller coasters and space missions alone will not be enough to fuel the development of VR and AR. Ironically, to make the transformative technologies of VR and AR mainstream, less excitement and more utility may be needed.

Here is a list of players in this sector that can take us in this direction.

Facebook and Oculus

A few years ago, Mark Zuckerberg said he wanted a billion people to experience virtual reality. There’s still a long way to go before that happens. Oculus, owned by Facebook and bought for $2 billion, offers three headsets: all-in-one go porthole To watch in virtual reality, Quest niche For virtual reality games, S crack nichewhich must be connected to a computer, to enjoy high-performance gaming.

Facebook just bought CTRL-Labs, which could also help eliminate the need for VR controllers. “I don’t think it’s 2020, but I hope it’s not 2030,” Zuckerberg said when asked when VR will become a mainstream technology.

Apple and ARKit

There are a number of augmented reality apps available for the iPhone, which use Its own ARKit development toolsThese applications allow users to see virtual items added to the view that they can see through the smartphone screen. IKEA Place App Allows users to drop virtual furniture and other decor items into a room to see how it will look before purchasing it.

Furthermore, it has long been known that Apple is working on some form of AR headset. “I’m very excited about augmented reality because I can see its uses everywhere,” he said. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in 2017.

Microsoft and HoloLens 2

Microsoft's HoloLens is a standalone Wi-Fi-enabled “mixed reality” headset aimed at businesses. Elevator maker ThyssenKrupp and Volvo were among the first adopters. Microsoft is gearing up for the launch Hololens 2which sells for $3,500.

Google and Glass Enterprise Edition

Google has long been passionate about augmented reality and continues to pursue research in various directions. Google Glass is by far its most famous attempt at building a headset: while the consumer version was ridiculed, Glass Foundation Edition It's used by DHL, GE, and Sutter Health to make employees more productive.

With Android, Google hasARCorea platform for creating augmented reality apps for its own Pixel smartphones, as well as smartphones from Samsung, Huawei, and others.

Google is also adding other AR features to its own apps. It recently added Live show To Google Maps so you can hold your smartphone and see arrows and directions overlaid on the street view in front of you.

“Looking to the future, I believe we are entering a new era of computing: the age of the camera, if you will.” Google Lens and AR business VP Aparna Chennapragada said last year,.

Magic Leap and its “space computer”

magic jump It describes its headset as a “spatial computer” that lets you interact with digital content. “So when you make digital penguins fall off the edge of a coffee table, they’ll fall off the edge of the coffee table, just like real penguins do,” the company explains. The headset, which also requires you to hold the remote CPU that does the processing, sells for $2,295.

HTC and Vive Cosmos

HTC recently added to its Vive headset lineup. htc vive cosmosIt uses an array of six cameras to track the location of the headset and its user, rather than the laser technology previously used. HTC recently worked with the BBC. In the immersive Doctor Who experience.

condition “A Glimpse into the Future of AR and VR for Business and Pleasure: From Sensors and Time Travelers to Smart Soldiers and Digital Doctors” Translated and adapted by ZDNet.fr