Oculus Go

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Oculus Go
Oculus Go.jpg
Basic Info
VR/AR Virtual Reality
Type Head-mounted Display
Subtype Low-end Standalone HMD
Developer Oculus
Release Date Arriving early 2018
Price Starting at $199
Website Oculus
System
Operating System Android
Storage
Display
Display Fast-switch LCD
Resolution 2560x1440
Image
Field of View 110 Degrees
Optics
Tracking
Tracking Standing, Seated (inside-out)
Rotational Tracking Yes
Positional Tracking No
Audio
Audio Integrated audio, Headphones
Connectivity
Connectivity 3.5mm audio jack
Device
Sensors Accelerometer, Magnetometer, Gyroscope
Input Wireless Controller

Oculus Go is the new low-end standalone head-mounted display introduced by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in October 2017. Go, the third such launch from Oculus, doesn’t require smartphone or a PC to power the headset. The makers are planning to release the headset in early 2018 and the device comes with a starting price tag of $199.

Focus on Affordability and Functionality

During the Oculus Connect keynote session Mark Zukerberg announced partial details of the new untethered VR headset the company is creating with heavy focus on affordability and functionality. All the stuff – processor, electronics, and software – that create the virtual reality experience are built into the Go headset.

Go, the latest virtual reality headset from Oculus, is not the successor of Santa Cruz. But, from the details that were released, we can assume that Oculus Go is a lot closer to Gear VR than Santa Cruz. While the standalone Santa Cruz headset is equipped with 6DOF (Degree of Freedom) positional tracking, the Oculus Go VR headset contains only 3DOF rotational tracking, just like Gear VR. The Oculus Go headset has rotational and orientation tracking, but not positional tracking.

Oculus is promising high-quality performance of its next generation lens that’ll provide a wide FOV with reduced glare. Very similar to Gear VR, Oculus Go has adopted the same input model and same application platform.

Design

Oculus is yet to release the virtual reality headset for the experts and consumers to comment on its design, look, and feel. The company has shared some pieces of information and from the images that were released we can make some guesses.

In terms of the shape and look of the device, Oculus Go is quite similar to the Oculus Rift. Like the Rift, Go also has a fabric wrapped around the harder exterior. The makers have worked on the comfort quotient, by adding a new ‘more breathable’ fabric and replacing the standard plastic Velcro with a soft elastic strap.

Audio

The new standalone from Oculus comes with integrated audio. The wearer of the headset doesn’t require a headphone to listen to the audio because the device comes with built-in speakers. For private listening headphones can be plugged into the 3.5mm audio jack in the device.

Display

Designing the Go VR HMD, the company has opted for fast-switch LCD instead of the OLED display. The makers are of the opinion that the 2560x1440 resolution LCD display has better fill-factor than the other display technology. It’s also believed that the Liquid Crystal Display technology would greatly help in eliminating the screen door effect.

Learning a thing or two from its earlier releases Oculus announced that the Go headset will have the second-generation Fresnel lenses. The technology upgrade is aimed at reducing the amount of glare.

Software

It’s only natural for the users to wonder the kinds of applications, games, and content that the Oculus Go would support. It’s believed that the new standalone HMD will have its own library of supporting applications, games, etc. Moreover, much of the software and content that run on Gear VR will also be compatible with Oculus Go. The company has also announced that the VR headset will support Unreal and Unity engine.

Controller

The controller offered along with the headset features a touchpad and trigger. In terms of functionality, tracking, and features the Oculus Go Controller is believed to be a lot like the Daydream View or Gear VR controllers.

The Rationale behind Oculus’ Third Launch

There is no denying that the era of virtual reality and augmented reality has arrived. For it to be accepted by the masses, it would take quite a few years unless the technology becomes affordable. It seems Mark Zuckerberg has understood the situation and the launch of the low-cost Oculus Go is the right step in that direction.

At the event attended by scores of computer programmers and tech enthusiasts, Zuckerberg reassured them of his commitment to the cause of virtual reality. His goal is to see a billion people use virtual reality in the days to come. The Facebook CEO also assured the crowd that the new low-cost standalone headset will offer the most accessible virtual reality experience ever.

Oculus isn’t the only company that’s working on standalone headsets. Google, which already has the Daydream View that requires a smartphone, is currently working on a standalone HMD device. But, not much is known about the product, how it works, its cost, and when it’ll be released.

Availability and Price

The low-cost standalone HMD was announced at the Oculus event and the makers a promising an early 2018 release, though the solid roll out date is still a mystery. Even though Oculus Go isn’t the most advanced standalone virtual reality headset, the affordable price (starting at $199) has got people excited about the product.

References

1. https://www.oculus.com/go/

2. https://www.roadtovr.com/oculus-go-headset-announcement-price-release-date-oculus-connect-4/

3. https://www.digitaltrends.com/virtual-reality/oculus-rift-vs-oculus-go/

4. https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/11/16459442/oculus-go-standalone-vr-headset-announce-pricing

5. http://www.techradar.com/news/oculus-go-release-date-price-news-and-features

6. https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/11/oculus-announces-199-oculus-go-standalone-headset/

7. https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/11/oculus-go/