Wireless headtracking is almost upon us
- Thread starter Globusdiablo
- Start date
Splitting hairs, we all know that wireless means that the unit you attach or directly interface with doesn't have any wires connecting you to something else, just like wireless chargers and wifi for computers, but go ahead and try to make it sound like some sort of giant leap when it really isn't.
There is clearly interest in the product. I was lucky enough to test it out. I am reporting what I saw. I'm sorry to offend you in so doing.
Nicola Tesla was working on this (successfully) in 1891.
https://www.damninteresting.com/teslas-tower-of-power/
my tinfoil hat will foil your insidious wireless attempt to track my head. mwahahahahah! 
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Oh for the days when my keyboard had enough real estate to have labels over function keys!!![big grin]
Not to derail the thread any further into a discussion about headtracking in general rather than EDTracker's upcoming wireless version, but you can mount the reflector to the top of your headphone band pretty easily. When I first tried it I figured it would have trouble tracking since it doesn't move around nearly as much as it would on the brim of a cap, but it works fine.
I doubt anybody would have mentioned it if the thread title hadn't implied that this is the first time wireless headtracking has been available. I certainly wouldn't have.
Indeed.
Ah, the semantics of "wireless" versus "wire-less"
At the end of the day, people will play the marketing game and most people only care that their solution is "without wires". In that sense, wire-less head tracking has indeed been around for years.
In terms of wireless - a common term used to denote devices that communicate using radio frequencies - well, I think we all know what we're talking about in this context. Is it the first one out there? Meh, tomatoes/tomatoes... there have been DIY ones on this very forum, and there are developer-focused IMU units out there in the wild with RF transceivers on them (if you're feeling flush!), but as far as I am aware this is the first commercial wireless (as in RF) head tracker.
At the end of the day, people will play the marketing game and most people only care that their solution is "without wires". In that sense, wire-less head tracking has indeed been around for years.
In terms of wireless - a common term used to denote devices that communicate using radio frequencies - well, I think we all know what we're talking about in this context. Is it the first one out there? Meh, tomatoes/tomatoes... there have been DIY ones on this very forum, and there are developer-focused IMU units out there in the wild with RF transceivers on them (if you're feeling flush!), but as far as I am aware this is the first commercial wireless (as in RF) head tracker.
Opentrack with FreePIE IMU on my smartphone here. I've been using it for two years.
Sony put some quality sensors in their phones by the way (as well they should, considering the price.)
Sony put some quality sensors in their phones by the way (as well they should, considering the price.)
I think I'm gonna get this... At some point at least.
I have a TrackIr 5, with the cap thing, which I attach to my wireless headset.... I've always liked it, and it works great.
BUT 3 things that the OP's thing solves for me:
1. That hat thing is annoying to have attached all the time(or keep reattaching), it looks stupid, and is just annoying.
2. The sun and candles mess it all up.
3. The angles of detection are great, but it would be better with no limitations.
+ The camera is a little annoying to have to attach, especially if you go to LAN's and such.
As for wireless: Common sense says that it means that there's no wire attached between you and the receiver. No more discussing this.
Cheers.
I have a TrackIr 5, with the cap thing, which I attach to my wireless headset.... I've always liked it, and it works great.
BUT 3 things that the OP's thing solves for me:
1. That hat thing is annoying to have attached all the time(or keep reattaching), it looks stupid, and is just annoying
.2. The sun and candles mess it all up.
3. The angles of detection are great, but it would be better with no limitations.
+ The camera is a little annoying to have to attach, especially if you go to LAN's and such.
As for wireless: Common sense says that it means that there's no wire attached between you and the receiver. No more discussing this.
Cheers.
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gearVR works wirelessly just fine for VR gameplay in elite, and it was free.
When i'm not in VR, i have a tobii eye tracker that works without any wires attached to my body. Not sure that counts though since the unit attaches to my monitor and has a wire.
When i'm not in VR, i have a tobii eye tracker that works without any wires attached to my body. Not sure that counts though since the unit attaches to my monitor and has a wire.
I also use the wired EDTracker with OpenTrack.
I like it very much, especially with my 3D monitor and NVidia LCD shutter glasses. While not as immersive as VR, it has higher resolution and there's a convenient button to disable 3D, which I find helpful when displaying the galactic or system maps (makes it easy to click on things to select them). I also like the fact that I can see my keyboard and surrounding, unlike VR headsets.
I like it very much, especially with my 3D monitor and NVidia LCD shutter glasses. While not as immersive as VR, it has higher resolution and there's a convenient button to disable 3D, which I find helpful when displaying the galactic or system maps (makes it easy to click on things to select them). I also like the fact that I can see my keyboard and surrounding, unlike VR headsets.
It's been done, but so far it's been less than ideal.
[video=youtube;IWjsXjVc_LE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWjsXjVc_LE[/video]