HTC Vive Developer Editions
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.
| 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 |
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.
Specifications
Setup Tutorial
- Choose a room with space for room-scale VR experience.
- Clear the space of clutter and objects that might obstruct movement or bump into.
- Unpack your HTC Vive boxes carefully. There should be 3 boxes: the headset box, Basestation box and controller box.
- 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.
- The Basestation box contains 2 Basestations, 2 power adapters, mounting hardware, 2 mounting plate, more hardware and 2 shelf adapters.
- The controller box contains 2 VR controllers, 2 lanyards, 2 wireless dongles, 8 batteries, 2 battery chargers, 2 AC adapters, 2 USB adapter boards.
- 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.
- Do not mount the basestations on surfaces that are vulnerable to vibration.
Apps
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.