Not long ago, VR headsets were assumed to be a fad that would pass over time. They were thought of as a luxury, only rich people or tech enthusiasts would pay for! But, with Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift, etc., making big news in the tech world, the popularity of VR headsets amplified way quickly. Not only in the gaming industry, but also in the world of entertainment!
While 2018 remain the year for VR headsets with a built-in screen, in 2019 the trends are going to change, drastically. It is anticipated that there will be VR headsets which will negate the need to insert a phone in the hardware.
Also, the VR headsets will free people from wires and offer them the best virtual reality experience ever. With that said, let’s have a close look at the improvements we’re likely to see In 2019 VR headsets.
Trends We’re Likely To See In 2019 VR Headsets
Mentioned below are five things that are likely to improve in the VR headsets. Read along!
The best of best VR headsets of 2018 came with a cable which limited the user’s experience. And, made them stick to a particular PC, console or laptop. But, in 2019, the VR headsets are expected to let loose of the physical tether and enjoy the VR experience wirelessly.
For now, the two approaches that are surfacing for VR headsets are standalone system and router-connected system. In a standalone system, the VR headset equips everything from display, processing power to all the other hardware.
On the other hand, in a router-connected system, a wireless receiver will be connected to the top of your headset to transmit data wirelessly. Both the approaches so far look promising, the rest depends on when the headsets actually launch in the market.
As a matter of fact, the human eye is only able to detect the objects/things visible to the tiny area at the centre of our vision. For instance, if you try to look to the left/right of anything around you without changing your focus, you will not be able to see it clearly. However, you get a rough idea of what is where through your peripheral vision!
With eye-tracking in VR headsets, you will be able to see images and other things in greater detail. The images will be rendered in a way that the eye is much more familiar to, adjusting the focus of detail depending on where the eye is focusing. In other words, the distracting images created by the peripheral vision will be eliminated.
Though cost-effectiveness is not a feature, in VR headsets it’s a big challenge to provide advanced experience and still keep the prices minimal. In 2019, it is expected that the upcoming VR headsets will be fairly less pricey than the previously launched models.
Integrated with flexible hand controllers, careful camera placement, better graphics, battery, tracking, and display, these headsets will be affordable. Oculus Santa Cruz is an ideal example of lower cost VR headsets. Apart from its high-end specifications, this prototype will be the cheapest VR headset; any tech enthusiast could buy.
If you have ever closely observed the images displayed by a VR headset, you might have noticed a few tiny fine lines in between the pixels. These fine lines are known as the screen door effect (SDE). No matter whether it’s an OLED or AMOLED display, this effect happens when the digital images are too large.
Thus, it is likely that in 2019 VR headsets, the screen door effect will be reduced with the introduction of the higher resolution. A company, named Kopin will be launching a VR headset ELF featuring 4K image resolution to display excellent quality very smooth images and effectively eliminating the screen door effect (SDE).
The VR headsets up-till now have been based on outside-in tracking, where headset and accessories are kept on track by an external device. However, in 2019 VR headsets, you will be introduced to the inside-out tracking feature.
As per this feature, combines a VR headset is embedded with outward facing cameras that allows a computer to see the environment. Also, in some cases, it can let you see your hand controllers. With inside-out tracking headsets, it is expected that users will be able to move freely which is not possible in outside-in tracking headsets.
According to an article, the VR industry will become a $38 billion industry by 2026. Starting from VR headsets, the demand for VR integrated devices will only increase. So far, the improvements and advancements in upcoming VR headsets are promising. And, they are expected to grow with a greater percentage as the technology prevails.