Meta (formerly Facebook) finally has details to share about its developments in VR hardware.
In a recent short video clip, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed technologies for at least four prototypes of virtual reality headphones that the brand is currently working on that could be translated into a consumer product by the end of this year. year. Developments will improve the current specifications of Oculus Quest 2 headphones and provide a preview of where things are headed.
All four prototypes focus on solving problems such as resolution, focal depth, optical distortion, and HDR. It is clear that each of these is not intended to be standalone products, but rather experiments that target specific technologies in development, although Zuckerberg ends his video with the HoloCake 2 prototype, which groups these technologies into a form factor. lightweight using holography. screens.
From the first demonstration, the “Butterscotch” prototype, the focus is on resolution. Meta aims to achieve a 20/20 vision with the associated headset screen. The idea is to allow users to read the smaller letters in an eye test chart. The prototype technology for this is called “retinal resolution,” said Zuckerberg, which “means increasing to 60 pixels per degree.”
As the NotebookCheck points out, this would be 2.5 times denser in pixels in the middle of the field of view than the current Quest 2. Quest 2 supports 20/60 vision, by comparison.
The focal depth prototype aims to explain how the eyes can move away from objects focused on virtual reality. The prototype technology is called “Half Dome”, which uses eye tracking and varifocal optics to provide a greater sense of depth from any distance. Zuckerberg points out that, unlike a traditional monitor, “in VR and AR, you need to be able to focus on things that are very close and very far from you.”
Zuckerberg also noted that optical distortion is a problem that needs to be addressed and requires a solution that is “imperceptible to the human eye.”
Finally, with the HDR prototype, Zuckerberg showed “Starburst,” which he calls the first known HDR VR system. Zuckerberg points out that nature is 10 or even 100 times brighter than our modern TVs and monitors, which is why Meta created Starburst. Zuckerberg says it can reach up to 20,000 bright nights.
Along with the other prototypes, Starburst technology is included in the Holocake 2 headphones. The headphones are a working prototype that “can now reproduce virtual reality experiences for PCs,” Zuckerberg said.
These details are the first solid news of Meta’s RV hardware since October, when the Butterscotch 20/20 vision prototype was first shown, UploadVR noted.
Long-standing rumors have suggested that Meta is developing a virtual reality headset that is now known as the “Cambria Project.” News about headphones came out last year, but it’s been difficult to figure out exactly what function the device might have, according to NotebookCheck.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested that the headset could be an Oculus Quest 2 Pro model, indicating that it may not be gaming-focused.
In particular, Meta did not present any hardware at its Quest Gaming Showcase 2022 virtual event in April, however, it commented on the state of the metavers and that it is still an ongoing project.
“We believe that metavers will build on this foundation to become the next generation of the Internet and the next evolution of social technology,” said Ruth Bram, Meta’s executive producer. “Both hardware and software need more work, and it can take five to ten years to bring it to life.”
Zuckerberg made a similar statement about the development of Meta’s VR technology prototype. “There’s still a long way to go, but I’m excited to bring all of this technology to our products in the years to come,” he said.
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