Oculus Rift from HTC and Steam

[Alexei.Polkhanov]

Here is a link to photos showing yet another Oculus Rift-like Virtual Reality device.
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/03/steam-controller-steamvr-steam-machines-valves-hardware-push-in-photos/

What are those photo diodes that cover entire body for? Are they trying to use structured light instead of MMIC accelerometer(s) and gyros to track the head movement?

I assume those are photo diodes like these ones:
http://www.digikey.ca/product-detail/en/PDB-C160SM/PDB-C160SMDKR-ND/3694496

[miguelvp]

Well, Jery Ellsworth did work at Valve while developing her prototype that eventually became the CastAR and Valve let her keep her research when they dismissed her. So I guess they are doing something similar to what she did for positioning accuracy of 2 millimeters as I recall.

[Alexei.Polkhanov]

Well most of other ones use MMIC gyros as far as I know. It was a surprise for me that they partnered with HTC and also were they trying to go around some patents when they decided to try something else or perhaps those photo diodes are not for position tracking at all ? ... we will know soon I guess.

[Finder]

Hi, they actually use the photo diodes with laser beacons.
Some info on the system from Tested

[Corporate666]

As listed above, the LED's are for positional tracking.  Oculus added a lot more because it reduces error and/or increases tracking speed.

The thing I don't understand about all the entrants into the VR headset market is, as far as I am aware, Oculus has quite a few patents for their system that solve some of the very difficult problems that have plagued VR systems for years.  And since, presumably, Oculus isn't going to be licensing those patents, it would seem their competition is going to be up against a major hurdle to overcome those problems in other ways. 

Which I think mirrors what I've been hearing from people who have used the multiple systems.  Samsung has one, Sony has one, HTC/Steam(Valve?) now has one... and the people who have used them all, from what I have seen, all rank Oculus as head and shoulders above the rest.

[Phaedrus]

My understanding is that Valve initially didn't want to get into the VR biz because they lack experience in manufacturing physical products. That's part of why they left their Steam Machine initiative up to 3rd party system integrators like Alienware and iBuyPower, and why their controller project has been so slow in coming. The scuttlebutt I've heard is that HTC is the one who approached Valve with this product, as they lack the branding and game dev relationships needed to get market acceptance on their own.

[Towger]

Has anyone tried the Microsoft Hololens yet. It appears to the argumented reality without the mat etc used by Cast AT.