HTC Vive Developer Editions

HTC Vive Developer Editions
Basic Info
Type	Virtual Reality
Subtype	Head-mounted Display
Platform	SteamVR
Developer	HTC, Valve
Release Date	Developer: Spring 2015, Consumer: Holiday 2015
Website	http://www.htcvr.com/
Requires	PC
System
Operating System	Windows
Storage
Display
Display	Dual Panel
Resolution	2160 x 1200, 1080 x 1200 per eye
Refresh Rate	90 Hz
Image
Field of View	110°?
Optics
Tracking
Tracking	6DOF
Rotational Tracking	Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Laser Position Sensor
Positional Tracking	2 SteamVR Base Stations
Update Rate	??
Latency	??
Audio
Audio	Headphones
Connectivity
Connectivity	2 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, 1 headphone jack
Device
Input	Controllers in both hands

HTC Vive is a Virtual Reality head-mounted display developed by HTC and Valve. HTC Vive is SteamVR's first device. The HMD was announced on March 1, 2015. Similar to Oculus Rift and unlike Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive requires connecting to a PC, not Smartphone, for its processing. It uses 2 external sensors, called SteamVR Base Stations, to accurately track the user's position and movement in a finite space. Development Kit is scheduled to be released in Spring 2015.

Hardware

The HTC Vive requires a connection to a PC, preferably a gaming PC with good specs, similar to Oculus Rift. It does not use a Smartphone as its display or for processing. The display of HTC Vive has a resolution of 2160 x 1200 or 1080 x 1200 per eye with the refresh rate of 90 FPS. The HMD has 6 degrees of freedom tracking with the help of Gyroscope, Accelerometer and Laser Position Sensor within the device and 2 SteamVR Base Stations externally. The 2 SteamVR Base Stations are placed high up on the 2 corners of the wall in a 90° angle. These sensors allow you to be accurately tracked to 1/10 of a degree within a 15 feet by 15 feet space. HTC Vive has the ability to transform your entire room into a Holodeck, allowing for a full room VR experience.

HTC Vive uses specially designed wireless VR controllers in both hands. These controllers look like a pair of nunchucks with sensors on top. The controllers allow the SteamVR Base Stations to not only track your head but also your hands. These controllers also have touch pad and trigger.

HTC Vive differs from Oculus Rift with better positional tracking. Because it accurately matches the user's physical movements with reactions in the virtual realm, Valve CEO Gabe Newell boasts that HTC Vive is the first VR Device that does not induce simulator sickness in its users.

While Oculus Rift is advertised as a seated experience. HTC Vive wants the user to move and walk around the 15 by 15 feet zone, allowing for a true holodeck experience.

Setup Tutorial

Developer Edition

Preparation:

1. Choose a room with space for room-scale VR experience.
2. Clear the space of clutter and objects that might obstruct movement or bump into.
3. Move or cover mirrors and other reflective objects. (Developer Edition only)
4. Unpack your HTC Vive boxes carefully. There should be 3 boxes: the headset box, Basestation box and controller box.
   1. The headset box should contain the HMD, interface box, interface box pad, 3 in 1 headset cable, short USB cable, short HMDI cable and AC adapter.
   2. The Basestation box contains 2 Basestations, 2 power adapters, mounting hardware, 2 mounting plate, more hardware, 2 shelf adapters and 50 ft sync cable.
   3. The controller box contains 2 VR controllers, 2 lanyards, 2 wireless dongles, 8 batteries, 2 battery chargers, 2 AC adapters, 2 USB adapter boards.

Basestations setup:

1. Find a 2 locations in the room to mount the Basestations. The Basestations should be mounted on opposite corners of the room, above head height (on ceiling), angle down 30 to 45 degrees. Each basestation has a field of view of 120 degrees in both axis.
2. The maximum distance between the basestations should be 15 feet or 5 meters. The play area is about 12 x 9 feet or 4 x 3 meters. The area does not have be perfectly square. Use tape to indicate the area is helpful.
3. Do not mount the basestations on surfaces that are vulnerable to vibration.
4. Hardware included allows the basestations to be mounted on walls, ceilings, shelves or tripods.
5. Attach power cables to the basestations and connect them together with the 50 feet sync cable. Attach the sync cable to the celing. (Developer Edition only)
6. Set 1 basestation to A and the other 1 to B using MODE.
   1. ??

Head-mounted display setup:

1. Connect the HMD to the PC through the interface box. Connect the 3 in 1 cable to the HMD. Connect the short USB and HDMI cables to the PC.
2. The interface box has 2 sides. Connect the 3 in 1 cable to the "VR side". Connect the short cables to the "PC side". When the power on and the LED will light up.
3. With the 3 in 1 cable, plug the USB, power and the Dark Blue end of the HDMI to the top of the headset. Tread the cables through the loop on the top of the strap.
4. Use the outside knob of the HMD to adjust the distance between the lenses based on your IPD. Remove the lens film.
5. Space for eyewear can be created by extending the face gasket out and re-tightening inside knob. Having lenses closer to your eye results in better field of view.

Controllers setup:

1. Each wireless controller requires 2 batteries. Set switch on side to DOWN for battery mode. UP is for USB mode.
2. When using wireless mode, use the 2 wireless dongles. Do not plug directly into USB 3.0. Use the included USB hub for better connection.
3. When using wired mode,

Installation:

Developer

SteamVR

SteamVR - Valve's VR platform for VR games and other experiences.

OpenVR - OpenVR has all of SteamVR's capabilities minus Steam.

History

HTC Vive, partnership between HTC and Valve, was announced on March 1, 2014 in Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

HTC Vive was showcased for the first time in GDC 2015 from March 2 - March 6.

June 5, 2015, HTC Vive Developer Editions began shipping to developers selected by Valve.