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WorldSense is a [[positional tracking ]] system developed by [[Google ]] that uses [[inside-out ]] technology, meaning that there is no need for external sensors to track the user’s movement. WorldSense aims to provide six [[degrees of freedom ]] (6DOF) tracking for [[virtual reality ]] (VR) [[head-mounted display|head-mounted displays ]] (HMDs) (Figure 1). This means that the user can go forward, backward, left, right, lean, dodge and duck, for example, and the device will identify those movements and translate them into the virtual environment. <ref name=”1”> Lang, B. (2017). Google announces ‘WorldSense’ inside-out tracking for standalone daydream VR headsets. Retrieved from https://www.roadtovr.com/google-announces-worldsense-inside-tracking-standalone-daydream-vr-headsets/</ref> <ref name=”2”> Lenovo. Lenovo + Daydream by Google. Retrieved from http://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/google-io/</ref> <ref name=”3”> Daydream. Introducing Daydream standalone VR headsets. Retrieved from https://vr.google.com/daydream/standalonevr/</ref>

According to Robertson (2017), the technology “relies primarily on front-facing cameras to detect edges in the environment and use them as reference points, so the headset can tell how far you’ve walked in real space and translate that into virtual motion as well.” Therefore, it is also a [[markerless tracking ]] device, not needing any [[fiducial markers ]] for positional tracking. WorldSense is intended to facilitate ease-of-use and mobility since everything needed for the VR experience is built into the headset. <ref name=”3”></ref> <ref name=”4”> Robertson, A. (2017). Google’s new VR headset is still a prototype — but it really works. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2017/5/18/15656290/google-io-prototype-standalone-vr-headset-hands-on-htc-lenovo-qualcomm</ref>

Google has said that this new positional tracking technology will dramatically improve the user’s experience when compared to prior [[Daydream ]] devices. This is important for those devices that will use WorldSense because positional tracking influences the user’s [[immersion ]] and comfort level in VR. Before WorldSense, Daydream mobile VR devices could only track the rotation of the head. While position tracking with 6DOF has been available in high-end PC headsets (e.g. [[Oculus Rift ]] and [[HTC Vive]]), implementing this technology in mobile VR headsets in a practical way has been a challenge due to the small form factor and computational demands. <ref name=”1”></ref>

WorldSense is an evolution of Google’s [[Tango ]] technology, connecting DayDream and Tango, and a response to other companies inside-out tracking solutions. The new VR devices will run existing Daydream apps and new apps built for WorldSense will not work on current Daydream-ready headsets. <ref name=”6”> Hamilton, I. (2017). Hands-on with Google's inside-out WorldSense tracking. Retrieved from https://uploadvr.com/hands-googles-inside-worldsense-tracking/</ref> <ref name=”7”> Terdiman, D. (2017) Google’s WorldSense will free VR from the PC and smartphone this year. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/40422379/googles-worldsense-will-free-vr-from-the-pc-and-smartphone-this-year</ref>