Last week at the Oculus Connect 6 Facebook main researcher in the field of VR Michael Abrash said that his unit is going to create an integrated conceptual model of VR headset next generation.
Still in Facebook Reality Labs identified the function prototypes. These prototypes show one future technology — Varifocal or face tracking. But the headset the next generation will need to enable many of the technologies in one package, so FRL is building the next — a unified prototype that combines many or all of the new technologies that they have developed or improved over the past five years.
The use of this prototype (and test software) will be based on working remotely. This is because FRL has laboratories around the world, so they can be their own test case. VR has the potential to revolutionize remote work, where meetings and collaboration online are made using tools such as Skype and Slack.
In fact, if VR could someday create a remote working environment, it would have saved from having the most part of work trips that would bring significant benefits to the environment and quality of life.
Please note that this is not a product, but simply “the study of high-risk”. However, Facebook could integrate this concept in future the headset after their completion.
Features and specifications
During this part of the speech Abrash spoke about the opportunities and improvements that he plans to include in this prototype:
High resolution: “displays with very high resolution” and “much improved optics.”
Hybrid possibility: this headset can perform rendering using the built-in mobile GPU or “wireless” from the PC.
Prefer the rendering: to make possible the use of a mobile GPU or wireless communication with such a high resolution.
Eye tracking: enable the rendering of the rendering and allow the avatars to look in the eye.
The mixed reality in real time: the spatial awareness of the real space and interacting with “table, chair, keyboard, mouse, and other environment.”
Reconstruction in real time: “private living map of the local physical environment”, which provides advanced automated system Guardian.
Haptic Gloves: with perfect tracking that allows you to use your hands as “intuitive very clever manipulators that they are in the real world”.
Varifocal optics: for a “clear and comfortable vision at arm’s length for hours of use a day.”
Body tracking and face tracking: a full and lively chat with other users in the virtual space.
A wider field of view to “everyone can see everyone.”
“Excellent ergonomics”: in the form of a compact headset that was comfortable to be in virtual reality “for a few hours.”
In any case, Abrash said that the final prototype “certainly does not make it” to the end of this list of specifications.
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