We've heard about Virtual Reality. We've heard about Augmented Reality.
But now, Intel has come up with a device to combine both - Glasses for "Merged Reality", as they call it.
Their vision is to mix the real world with virtual reality, and create an entirely new user experience.
The new product "Project Alloy" comes without wires, without additional controllers or a tracking-camera - it's supposed to feel much more natural than 'traditional' VR Glasses like the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift.
It's an all-in-one device that doesn't need to be connected to any PC or other phone!
Project alloy tracks the room and your hand motions, allowing you to move freely in any space and even interact with your surroundings.
The RealSense cameras can sense depth and track the user's hands, so that no additional controllers are needed.
An integrated camera lets you see the room around you (unlike other VR glasses where you're in a totally different world), but virtual objects as well!
"Merged reality delivers virtual-world experiences more dynamically and naturally than ever before – and makes experiences impossible in the real world now possible."-Brian Krzanich, Intel CEO
Ideally, users should be able to experience a totally new reality with Alloy - but combined with their actual surroundings.
As an example, Krzanich explained that you could play Tennis in your living room - with a real tennis racket, totally wireless and without any other controllers or tracking devices.
While this is a great futuristic vision, the technology is not quite there yet.
Alloy supports the Windows Holographic system, and is therefore more a "brother" than a rival to the Microsoft HoloLens.
Project Alloy is said to be released in 2017 as an open source platform.
Personal Opinion After trying several different Virtual Reality devices, I can definitely say that VR is a very interesting technology - but there's still lots of room for improvement.
I like the idea of having a wireless device, because I experienced myself how distracting it can be to be limited to a certain range and be stuck to a cable.
Also, I think that it's a great innovation to combine VR with the real world, and have glasses that also let you see your surroundings.From the reviews that I've read, the Alloy isn't perfect yet - the range in which the device tracks your hands is limited, and it doesn't always work as effortlessly as it should.
But I'm sure that Intel will improve these issues with the upcoming Alloy 2!I'll be interested to see where this new technology of "Merged Reality" takes us - in my opinion, there's quite a big potential if you execute it in the right ways!
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Transcendence of the notions of reality and virtuality. Supercool!
exactly - the lines are blurring more and more!
a combination of VR, AR and the real world - that sounds awesome! would love to try it out!!
me too, I wonder if it really works as promised.
virtual reality is getting more and more affordable and mainstream - I think that's great but the graphics still have a long way to go and could be waaay better!
whenever I tried it out I enjoyed the experience, but if that was combined with the HD graphics we already have in regular video games, it would be perfect
that first promo video looks amazing, but I think we're actually still quite far from that really happening!
yes, the promo video is awesome but you definitely can't do all of that yet with the goggles alone!
combining VR with your actual environment is amazing, and I think the future of VR / AR will actually use this a lot more to their advantage
good suggestion, I agree!
I've NEVER actually tried any virtual reality stuff, but I'd love to, it looks so cool! Can't even imagine what that must be like!!
it's a really cool experience, you should try it out at an electronics store if you ever get the chance
all these companies bringing out new VR gear .. that's awesome, right on time for christmas!
that's probably what they were thinking too!
very interesting, isn't it crazy how far technology is advancing ?!
great topic!
it's getting more and more advanced, now only the graphics have to catch up!
this technology has huuuge potential, I wonder how it performs (in real life demos) compared to the HoloLens!
yes that would be an interesting comparison!
this sounds very promising, the concept definitely has potential, but the technology itself still has a long way to go.
Looking forward to the future of VR / AR / MR !
agreed! thanks for your feedback!
Merged reality, augmented reality, same thing.
Now make it so small and lightweight that it can be mistaken for a pair of sunglasses.
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