Valve reveals 'Steam Goggles' virtual reality project

Category: News Wire Published on Sunday, 09 September 2012 12:52 Written by scaR Hits: 308

Amid much speculation about it's foray into the hardware market, Steam has revealed their masterly plan to revolutionise gaming. We all look at games through a window, the display screen. This is what keeps us from being completely wrapped in the digital world. Regardless of what, there will always be distractions to break the immersion.

Valve plans to change all of that with their virtual reality goggles. Currently an unweildly mass atop a player's head, they plan to shrink it down for consumers. Interestingly enough, Valve does not plan on going into production. Their intent is to share their findings freely with manufacturers. Allowing them to tweak and improve aspects as they see fit.

Virtual reality is already a reality but due to it's price, it's typically used in computer applications such as  Electronic Design Automation, CAD, Finite Element Analysis, and Computer Aided Manufacturing. Industry use in automative, naval and aerospace is also quite popular for 3D Printing and Stereolithography. Planning use for urban development and transport systems are becoming common.

While it has seen some use in theraputic applications, mainstream usage is still far out of reach. Valve will face an uphill battle to get this shipped in a cost effective package.

[ source : http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/09/technology/valve-a-video-game-maker-with-few-rules.html?_r=2 ]