HTC and Valve Software
HTC Vive is a virtual reality headset developed in a co-production between HTC and Valve Corporation. This device uses an HTC Mobile Phone as a display and a PC desktop processor. It is best used for displaying fully immersive 360º interactive content.
The consumer version of the headset will be the first of the high-end headset to be sold to the public. Release timeline is April 2016. However Groove Jones has these units and can use them for your events.
The headset is the first to offer a forward facing camera, which allows for some interesting AR applications,
This headset is considered “tethered” as it does need a separate PC to power the experience. This opens up a wide range of exciting applications due to the experience rendering live, while you are in it. Once you are in the ‘Vive” you forget about the cable.
Hardware
We often use Falcon Northwest Tiki Frag boxes to run our client’s experiences. This equipment can be rented out for your events or installations.
Room-Scale – Go Ahead and Move Around
Room-Scale is incredibly immersive as it allows you to walk around within your experience, just as you would naturally move through a space. The interactive spaces is currently 15’ x 15’ and is fully open for engagement opportunities.
Peripherals
The touchpad and button allow for a standard minimum input capability for users to interact with the virtual environments. So interaction is meant to be simple. We can integrate a handheld peripheral, like a game controller via Bluetooth for more advanced interactive requirements.
Content Distribution on Devices
- Private Localized Experiences – VR content will be released as an compiled App, so it can be installed on an PC’s locally.
- Public Release – VR content can be released for the general audience to download and experience as a downloadable EXE file through a URL. So distribution can be as simple as a link from your web site or through Steam.
Valve Software – Steam
Steam is an Internet-based digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation, the creator behind the HTC Vive. Steam has on average between 10 – 12 million concurrent users at a time. That means at any given moment, millions of users are logged into their Steam account. Tapping into that audience is a key to a worldwide release of content to the public.
If you are interested in learning more about how to utilize VR for your digital and experiential campaigns feel free to reach out to us at – https://groovejones.com/contact/