Since we clearly can’t quit VR headsets, it’s no surprise that VR devices are popping up on crowdfunding sites these days. Fove’s Kickstarter, then, is not totally surprisingly, but it is certainly ambitious.
Fove has a lot of familiar elements that we’ve seen over the past couple of years: Large contraptions strapped to peoples’ faces, mock-ups of VR video games and scenes, and boasts about how really lifelike the experience will be, we pinky-swear-promise.
However, next to Oculus Rift – which now has a real release date and specs – Fove can’t help but look like a one trick pony. Fortunately, that trick is still pretty cool. You see, Fove is all about eye tracking: It uses a hardware/software combo to track exactly where user eyes are looking and even how eyes are behaving, a bit like that tracking software that marketers use to judge consumer eyeballs, but in a virtual reality space.
The benefit to eye tracking is that Fove can use the data to create a more natural exploratory experience. Look in one direction, and the VR images can shift to accommodate your new interest. This allows users to move their heads and explore like they would in a real environment. The eyesight tracking also allows for a few other cool features. In a video game, you can aim crosshairs with your eyes, for example. When interacting with VR people, Fove allows for realistic eye contact, facial expressions, and conversations. On a visual level, sight tracking also allows scenery to blur and sharpen more naturally to both save on RAM and improve once again on realism.
Fove is using its crowdfunding to push the headset, a developer kit, and more – what programs are actually developed will depend on who picks the device up. And that’s a very important question, because Fove looks more like an acquisition in waiting than anything else. Who will pick up the eye-tracking tech? Will Facebook spring on it? Is Samsung looking for a new feature? Maybe Google wants to try its hand. Speculation aside, if you want a Fove it will cost around $350 for the earliest of early bird specials.
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