HTC Vive launched its latest all-in-one (AIO) virtual reality (VR) headset, the Vive Focus 3, back in June, and since then has been introducing new features whilst improving others. The latest update enhances the hand tracking capabilities of the device, making it more accurate and stable in the process.
Vive Focus 3 comes with its own controllers as standard with the hand tracking only introduced after the official launch. In this week’s free firmware update (v3.0.999.284), users should find that hand tracking now feels more natural, keeping up with quick movements while actions like pinching are more accurate when interacting with virtual objects.
HTC Vive’s hand tracking engine uses a 26-point skeletal hand modelling system to track all your individual finger movements, now used right from the room setup process thanks to the update. You can simply pop the controllers down and the Vive Focus 3 will automatically detect your hands.
Developers working on Vive Focus 3 compatible projects are able to integrate six predefined hand gestures for easy accessibility, ideal considering the headset is aimed towards the enterprise end of the market. This sector tends to lean towards training and development uses cases as well as design, all of which can benefit from hand tracking.
Retailing for £1,272 GBP, the Vive Focus 3 is based around the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Platform – like so many AIO headsets – sporting dual 2.5K displays (2448 x 2448 pixels per eye), a 90Hz refresh rate, a 120-degree field of view (FoV), adjustable IPD range from 57mm to 72mm and a rear-mounted battery for even weight distribution.
It’s been quite the hardware year for HTC Vive. Alongside the Vive Focus 3, there’s the new Vive Pro 2 for PC VR gaming and then there the Vive Flow. A slightly different tangent to Vive’s other offerings, the Flow is a smartphone connectable device that’s lightweight and for media consumption, with a strong focus on mental health.
As HTC Vive continues to improve its hardware lineup, VRFocus will keep you updated.
via Mint VR