Forget Room-Scale VR, Warehouse-Scale Is Now Possible

One of the reasons why I love my HTC Vive is because it allows me to move around the room. Otherwise, just standing around in the same spot tends to break my immersion. Of course, you're still limited to around 15 square feet of movement. But what if you want to roam around a much, much larger room? One company is working on just that.

A company by the name of WorldViz is working on a system that will let you experience VR in not just a small room. Instead, they envision people freely wandering around an open warehouse-sized room, strapped into their headset of choice. The company has been working on integrating their new technology into both Unity and Unreal Engine, which means that by this summer, any game using those engines will be compatible.

The PPT system developed by WorldViz uses high-precision cameras that track user positions at 240Hz. You'll need to use special sensors, which can be attached to any of the many VR headsets out there, including the Rift, Vive, PSVR, Gear VR, and Google's new Daydream VR. You'll also use their own sensor wand for hand tracking.

With all of these things in place, the system can track up to 10 people in a 50 meter by 50 meter area. Imagine being able to hang out with 10 other people, all playing the same game in VR, right there in the room with you.

The PPT system is already currently available. If you've got a huge, empty warehouse and an extra $15,000 in the bank, then this could be exactly what you and your friends need to get the ultimate VR experience.

VIA: VentureBeat