Varjo VR-1
The Varjo VR-1 is a professional PC-powered virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Varjo Technologies, a Finnish company founded by former Nokia and Microsoft executives. Announced on October 2, 2017, and released on February 19, 2019, the VR-1 was the world's first VR headset to achieve "human-eye resolution" through its revolutionary Bionic Display technology.[1]
| Varjo VR-1 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC-Powered VR |
| Platform | SteamVR |
| Creator | Urho Konttori, Klaus Melakari, Niko Eiden, Roope Rainisto |
| Developer | Varjo |
| Manufacturer | Flex |
| Announcement Date | October 2, 2017 |
| Release Date | February 19, 2019 |
| Price | $5,995 + $995/year subscription |
| Website | https://varjo.com |
| Versions | VR-1 |
| Requires | High-end PC |
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | Varjo VR-2 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) |
| Storage | |
| SD Card Slot | No |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual OLED displays per eye (Bionic Display) |
| Subpixel Layout | RGB |
| Resolution | Focus: 1920×1080 per eye, Context: 1440×1600 per eye |
| Pixel Density | 60+ PPD (focus area), 14 PPD (periphery) |
| Refresh Rate | Focus: 60 Hz, Context: 90 Hz |
| Persistence | Low persistence |
| Precision | Sub-pixel precision |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 87° (82° diagonal) |
| Horizontal FoV | 87° |
| Vertical FoV | N/A |
| Visible FoV | 87° |
| Rendered FoV | 150° |
| Binocular Overlap | less than 85% |
| Average Pixel Density | N/A |
| Peak Pixel Density | 60+ PPD |
| Foveated Rendering | Yes (fixed foveated) |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Custom hybrid optics |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | 58-72mm (manual adjustment) |
| Adjustable Diopter | No |
| Passthrough | No |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | SteamVR 2.0 |
| Tracking Frequency | 1000 Hz |
| Base Stations | Required (SteamVR 2.0) |
| Eye Tracking | Yes (20/20 Eye Tracker) |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | 6DOF |
| Positional Tracking | 6DOF |
| Update Rate | 1000 Hz |
| Tracking Volume | Up to 10m × 10m |
| Play Space | Room-scale |
| Latency | less than 20ms |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 3.5mm jack |
| Microphone | Yes |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack | Yes |
| Camera | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | DisplayPort 1.2, USB 3.0 |
| Ports | 1× DisplayPort 1.2, 2× USB 3.0 |
| Wired Video | DisplayPort 1.2 |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Power | External power adapter |
| Device | |
| Weight | 905g (headset + headband) |
| Material | Aluminum, plastic |
| Headstrap | Professional headband |
| Haptics | No |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | Eye tracking sensors |
| Input | Compatible with SteamVR controllers |
| Compliance | CE, FCC |
| Cable Length | 10 meters |
History
Varjo was founded in 2016 by Urho Konttori (CEO), Klaus Melakari (CTO), Niko Eiden, and Roope Rainisto, who brought collective expertise from Microsoft's HoloLens and Xbox VR teams.[2] The company raised $8.2 million in Series A funding led by EQT Ventures in 2017, followed by $31 million in Series B funding in 2018 led by Atomico.[3]
The VR-1 was first demonstrated at CES 2018, generating significant industry attention for its unprecedented visual clarity. The headset officially launched in February 2019, targeting enterprise customers in automotive design, aerospace, and architecture.[4]
Technical Specifications
Bionic Display Technology
The VR-1's defining feature is its patented Bionic Display system, which uses two displays per eye to create variable resolution similar to the human visual system. The high-resolution focus display covers approximately 20 degrees of the user's central vision, while a lower-resolution context display provides peripheral vision.[5]
Display Specifications
- Focus Display: 1920×1080 OLED per eye at 60 Hz
- Context Display: 1440×1600 OLED per eye at 90 Hz
- Peak Resolution: Over 60 pixels per degree (PPD) in the focus area
- Peripheral Resolution: 14 PPD in the context area
- Field of View: 87° horizontal (82° diagonal)
Optical System
The VR-1 employs custom hybrid optics to blend the two display systems seamlessly. The optical combiner uses proprietary technology to merge the high-resolution center with the wider peripheral view without visible boundaries when properly calibrated.
Eye Tracking
The integrated 20/20 Eye Tracker technology enables:
- Foveated rendering optimization
- Automatic interpupillary distance (IPD) measurement
- Gaze-based interaction capabilities
- Professional analytics for research applications
System Requirements
The VR-1 requires a high-performance workstation:
- Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7-6700 or better
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 or better (Quadro recommended)
- Memory: 32 GB RAM minimum
- Ports: DisplayPort 1.2, 2× USB 3.0 Type-A
Tracking and Controllers
The VR-1 utilizes SteamVR 2.0 tracking technology, requiring external base stations for positional tracking. The system is compatible with SteamVR controllers, including the HTC Vive controllers and Valve Index controllers.
Software Compatibility
The VR-1 supports:
- Native Varjo software ecosystem
- SteamVR applications
- Autodesk VRED (native integration)
- Unity and Unreal Engine
- Custom enterprise applications via Varjo SDK
Professional Features
- Calibration Tools: Professional-grade IPD and display calibration
- Color Accuracy: Factory-calibrated displays for design work
- SDK Access: Full API access for custom application development
- Support Services: Enterprise-level technical support included with subscription
Business Model
The VR-1 was sold through a subscription model:
- Hardware Price: $5,995
- Annual Subscription: $995 per year
- Total First Year Cost: $6,990
The subscription included software updates, technical support, and access to professional features.
Industry Applications
Automotive Design
Early adopters included Audi, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Cars, who used the VR-1 for:
- Interior design validation
- Ergonomics testing
- Virtual prototyping
- Design review sessions
Aerospace and Aviation
Companies like Airbus and Boeing implemented VR-1 for:
- Cockpit design verification
- Training simulation development
- Maintenance procedure visualization
Architecture and Construction
Architecture firms utilized the VR-1 for:
- Photorealistic architectural visualization
- Client presentations
- Design validation at 1:1 scale
Manufacturing
The VR-1 was manufactured by Flex Ltd. (formerly Flextronics), a leading electronics manufacturing services provider. Production took place in Europe to maintain quality standards and reduce shipping times to primary markets.
Critical Reception
Industry reception was generally positive, with reviewers praising the unprecedented visual clarity while noting limitations:
Strengths:
- Revolutionary image quality in the focus area
- Professional-grade build quality
- Excellent color accuracy
- Integrated eye tracking
Limitations:
- High cost of entry
- Heavy weight (905g) causing fatigue
- Limited 87° field of view
- Visible boundary between focus and context displays in some scenarios
- 60 Hz refresh rate in focus area
Legacy and Impact
The VR-1 established Varjo as a serious competitor in professional VR, proving market demand for ultra-high resolution displays despite premium pricing. Its Bionic Display concept influenced subsequent VR development industry-wide, with competitors exploring similar multi-resolution approaches.
The success of the VR-1 validated Varjo's business model targeting enterprise customers rather than consumers, setting the stage for the company's continued focus on professional applications. Technologies pioneered in the VR-1, particularly the 60+ PPD resolution target and integrated eye tracking, became benchmarks for professional VR systems.
Discontinuation
The VR-1 was discontinued following the release of the Varjo VR-2 in October 2019, which addressed many of the original's limitations while maintaining the core Bionic Display technology. Varjo continued supporting VR-1 customers through their subscription model.
See Also
References
- ↑ "Varjo Announces VR-1, World's First Human Eye-Resolution VR Headset For Industrial Use". Varjo. February 19, 2019. https://varjo.com/press-release/varjo-announces-vr-1-worlds-first-human-eye-resolution-vr-headset-for-industrial-use/.
- ↑ "Varjo". Atomico. https://atomico.com/partners/varjo.
- ↑ "Our Investment in Varjo: The Industrialisation of VR has arrived". Atomico. https://atomico.com/insights/our-investment-in-varjo-the-industrialisation-of-vr-has-arrived.
- ↑ "Varjo". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varjo.
- ↑ "Twice the Performance, Half the Price – See How the New Varjo XR-3 and VR-3 Improve from Earlier Varjo Headsets". Varjo. December 1, 2020. https://varjo.com/blog/twice-the-performance-half-the-price-%E2%80%AFsee-how-the-new-varjo-xr-3-and-vr-3-improve-from-earlier-varjo-headsets/.
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