Infinitus Global has just debuted a new virtual reality headset called the Infinitus Prime tVR. It is not a consumer product. Rather, the primary customers targeted by the company for this HMD are enterprise and professional users.
Infinitus Global is a joint venture between Delion Global (London, UK) and Quanti (Prague, Czech Republic). Apparently, the Infinitus PrimetVR was based on developments embodied in the “Claire 22M” headset developed by VR Union (Prague, Czech Republic).
This HMD was reported to incorporate dual Fresnel lens and prisms and designed to provide a significant overlap in the fields of view of the user’s eyes. The FOV was quite wide at 140°. The HMD contains a LCD having a very high resolution of 5120 x 1440 pixels and that is based on IPS technology. By selecting this LCD, the Infinitus Global engineers chose to go with the higher resolution and higher pixel density available from a LCD rather than the faster refresh rate available from an OLED.
The current version of the HMD weighs about 500 grams. The company states that the final release of the device will be slightly lighter and smaller. Despite its size and current weight, online evaluations report that the Infinitus Prime tVR was quite comfortable to wear.
To facilitate a wider range of potential uses, the Infinitus Prime tVR comes with modular lenses that are interchangeable, enabling a selection that is “appropriate for specific applications.” In addition, there is a manual scroll wheel for visual adjustment. The accelerometer, gyroscope and other tracking technology are built into the headset.
A unique feature reported of the tVR is that it was designed so that a large number of people could use the same device. Some examples of use cases for the HMD include “education, advertising, tourism, marketing, design and engineering.”
Another uncommon feature of Infinitus Global tVR is that multiple systems can be tracked in one space. This was demonstrated by the fact that 18 people used the Infinitus Prime tVR to play the same video in a virtual movie theater. In this instance, all of the data was managed by a single computer.
During the last three years, the Infinitus Prime tVR headset is reported as having been used/tested by an amazing 30,000 different people.
The software platform was designed entirely by the company and is available on Windows, Mac and Linux. The player is compatible with most common types of video files.
The current version of the HMD is tethered, working through a DisplayPort connection. The device also has Bluetooth or USB connections for controllers. Users can control and move inside a simulator utilizing a Razor hand held controller. The company has also tested the Leap Motion gesture control system.
The HMD includes its own sound card and has a built in microphone but does not come with integrated headphones. It can also be customized. This allows customers to modify the appearance of the headset to suit individual business needs. Customizable features include programmable RGB LEDs that can be switched to match the color of a particular company’s branding. The colors of the device enclosure can also be changed.
Infinitus Prime tVR headsets will be available through online and direct sales. Infinitus Global is also building a distributor network and is planning to sell through “a leading global technology distributor in the UK.”
Preorders officially began in early July. The company reports receiving about 5,500 orders even before the first launch. When it begins to ship in August, 2016, the Infinitus Prime tVR HMD will initially sell for a hefty $3,000.
Future versions of the HMD are planned to have an extended field of view, perhaps as wide a 170°, a 4K camera add on, wireless operation and a slightly revised headset design. In addition, Infinitus Global wants to incorporate room tracking and a pass through camera to enable augmented reality in an advanced version of the tVR. -Arthur Berman
