ZEISS has today announced the debuts its newest product, the ZEISS VR ONE Connect, will take place at CES 2018, Las Vegas, this week. The new platform is intended to bridge the gap between mobile and PC-connected virtual reality (VR) technologies, allowing users to play SteamVR videogames through mobile VR headsets.
The ZEISS VR ONE Connect gives mobile VR users more interactive gaming and experiential possibilities by allowing them to play videogames and other VR software through SteamVR, which currently has approximately 300,000 users. The platform boasts a high-quality VR experience with a comparatively low additional investment, requiring only an iOS or and Android based smartphone.
“This solution is a first of its kind in the VR space,” said Franz Troppenhagen, senior product manager at ZEISS. “Users will now be able to access games on SteamVR in a much different way than previous options, and they’ll also have access to traditional VR apps and 360 video content.”
A current-generation smartphone, VR-ready PC and a mobile VR headset are required for operation. The smartphone is slid into the ZEISS VR ONE Plus or other mobile VR headset and a USB cable connects the smartphone to a VR-ready computer, allowing the use of videogames and other content on the SteamVR platform. The two wireless three degrees of freedom (3DoF) controllers and the smartphone are linked via Low Energy (LE) Bluetooth. Built-in sensors in the controllers, together with the three sensors built-in to the smartphone, allow for interaction with the VR environment.
“This product was much needed in the market, and it’s propelling VR from a very niche market to a mass market, providing entry-level solutions based on your mobile phone so that the technology is accessible to everyone,” said Dave Hodgson, North America sales representative for ZEISS.
Originally intended for launch last year, the ZEISS VR ONE Connect is set to be available at major US retailers in the spring of 2018, priced at $129 USD. No details on an international launch are currently available. VRFocus is currently at CES 2018 and will bring you all the latest details on the ZEISS VR ONE Connect direct from the show floor.
via Mint VR