A new virtual reality headset is claimed to offer images that are 50 times sharper than other headsets currently on the market.
Finnish start-up Varjo is working with system-on-chip company Socionext to develop the first ever human-eye resolution virtual reality/mixed reality (VR/XR) headset. The prototype is based on a combination of Varjo’s patented human-eye resolution technology with Socionext’s Milbeaut image signal processing solutions.
According to the company, the new VR/XR headset display can visualise images at 70MP with a 100° field-of-view, which is far beyond what is supported by current first-generation VR headsets.
The device takes advantage of the fact that the human eye doesn’t actually see the world in high resolution across its entire field of view — in fact, we only see full-resolution images at 2° in the central field of vision, and our peripheral vision is less detailed.
As a result, the new headset provides very high definition images of the objects the user is focusing on at any given moment, and the rest of the scene is shown at a lower resolution.
This approach uses around 25% less computing power than current VR headsets.
The BBC’s Technology of Business editor, Matthew Wall, who has tested the prototype, said that the level of detail in the central area of vision was “certainly impressive — as close to the real thing as I’ve come across”.
However, with pricing expected to range from €5,000 to €10,000 (£4,350 to £8,700), the company is targeting corporate customers — such as aircraft manufacturers, carmakers, architects, construction firms and the entertainment industry — rather than home users.
Tags: Virtual reality, Next generation connectivity, Connected Consumers, VR
