Over at Acer’s Next@Acer event where the company released an unlimited number of devices and gadgets for the press to take a look at, one of the more stand-out appearances made, was of their mixed reality headset.
The company has partnered with Microsoft to introduce a new Hololens approach to mixed reality. The two had already been working together to create mixed reality development kits, delivered to developers since March, in hopes to help realize the potential of the device’s capabilities.
Mark Bolas, the director of programme management at Windows Mixed Reality, had mentioned that the aim of the new device was to merge the physical and digital worlds to create brand new environments. This sounds a lot like a Hololens that is going to be instead made by Acer. No further details were delved into the product itself, but it was made known to the public how hard at work the developers were at creating this product. Some publishers are not buying into it however.
According to Tom’s Hardware, the new HMD is merely a VR headset that has inside-out tracking. It is a tethered component, which means that it does not come with its own CPU, GPU, RAM and storage, hence it will rely on an existing piece of computer tech. The headset will however, come with 6 Depth of Field tracking sensors so that the device can capture the layout of the environment accurately. While the Hololens offers physical interaction with the real world using the camera pass-through technology, Acer’s HMD does not, which means that the clarity in defining mixed reality has not been a little obscure.
The HMD’s only physical proof of being a mixed reality headset is the couple of cameras that jut out from the headset at the front. Apart from that, the headset features an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer as well as a proximity sensor. There is black bar as well on the top of the device, but Acer has not yet revealed further details surrounding the HMD to fully confirm the internal specifications.
While Acer’s intentions regarding the XR HMDs remains unclear, we are sure it will cater to a very specific set of audiences who can afford to be one of the early-adopters of the device. The HMDs will be ready for purchase later on this year and by then there should be plenty of explanation revolving around the kind of reality that his headset serves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67yLuiSfMWM
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