Samsung’s ExynosVR 3 Standalone Headset Prototype Design is Out

Image credit: Visual Camp

By this year-end, we can expect some major technological changes in the VR industry as many VR manufacturers are gearing for ‘all-in-one’ VR solutions. This development is nothing but standalone VR headsets with top-of-the-line hardware and high-end computing prowess.

Earlier this year, Google officially announced its plans of standalone VR headset, in collaboration with Lenovo and HTC, to be arriving later this year-end. Computing magnate, Microsoft, has also joined hands with prominent tech industry players like Asus, Dell, Acer, Lenovo and other for its mixed reality headsets.

This time, Samsung revealed the reference design of its ‘all-in-one’ standalone VR headset powered by Exynos processors at the Mobile World Congress in Shanghai last week.

Samsung ExynosVR Headset

This upcoming standalone VR headset from Samsung is expected to have powerful specs like an ARM Makli G71 MP20 GPY and an M2 Dual 2.5GHz CPU. Additionally, the headset is also expected to have a 4K display resolution at 75fps and Wide Quad High Definition (WQHD) at 90fps. Well, we can strongly believe Samsung on this, as the company is already working on VR Displays capable of running immersive high-definition VR content. Moreover, its existing and first Gear VR headset offers a very sharp and powerful resolution beating the likes of giants Oculus and HTC.

Other goodies which the Exynos VR headset will bring to the table include hand-tracking, voice recognition, and facial expression recognition. The prototype design shows a possible camera arrangement to its front that can be used for inside-out room scale positional tracking. One of the major new features expected is an eye-tracking solution with ‘foveated rendering’ techniques to be implemented by other Korean company, Visual Camp.

Eye-Tracking Solution with Foveated-Rendering Techniques

At the recently held MWC Congress in Shangai, Visual Camp took the opportunity to reveal its eye-tracking solution with the Exynos VR headset reference design. This eye-tracking technology from Visual Camp will be using a special technique called ‘foveated rendering‘.

This technique majorly aims at saving system resources by rendering only that portion of the display where the user is looking. This means the area where your eye is focusing will be rendered in 100% detail and clarity and all the surrounding area shall be received in reduced resolution.

Image credit: Visual Camp

Foveated rendering is specifically useful for live-streaming of VR content by reducing the data consumption and also in mobile VR technology while preventing excessive build heat up as well as component wear.

While commenting on this development, Visual Camp CEO Suk Yunchan said, “By collaborating with Samsung Electronics, our technology was internationally recognized at MWCS 2017, enabling us to secure a bridgehead for future global marketing efforts. Now, we will continue promoting the high quality of Korean startup technologies and products overseas.”

With Samsung planning all these features for its next standalone VR headset, it is most likely to give its competitors a tough time ahead and will most likely carry ahead its dominance in the VR industry.