At the Augmented World Expo, Varjo will be showing off their latest VR headset, set to release by the end of the year. Boasting two displays per eye, foveated rendering and high-end display technology, the new headset should impress. More important than the new VR headset, however, is their Mixed Reality add-on, planned for release in early 2019 to their Early Access Partners. We’ll cover this below.
What makes the Mixed Reality add-on special?
According to Varjo, the most important advantage that their Mixed Reality solution boasts over its contemporaries is video-centric technology. The Mixed Reality add-on to their headset captures real-time video with 2 4K cameras at 90 FPS, meant to provide a seamless and realistic MR experience. Using onboard processors and various software optimizations, this will result in a seamless MR experience that isn’t as limited by FOV and hardware power as other solutions, like HoloLens or Google Glass.
The support for foveated rendering also helps reduce the hardware requirements of this headset. Current demos are being powered by a GTX 1080, which may be on the higher end of a consumer’s budget but is much more easily affordable for the business consumers that this product is aimed at. Thanks to the multiple displays in the headset and the MR add-on, the headset will be capable of seamless switches between VR, AR and MR in ways that aren’t currently possible with other products on the market.
Who are the Early Access Partners?
In addition to the hardware itself, Varjo has also forged many partnerships with big-name players across various industries. In our call with them, they informed us of the following Early Access partners:
Design partners:
- Volkswagen
- BMW
Entertainment partners:
- Magnopus
- 20th Century Fox
- Technicolor
Simulation partners:
- Bohemia Interactive
- Airbus
With big names like Volkswagen and 20th Century Fox involved, it sounds like Varjo has earned the faith of partners in high places. We won’t truly know how revolutionary this headset is until it comes to market, but if what’s on show at the Augmented World Expo is any indication, then we’re in for a treat.
