Credit where credit is due: https://github.com/relativty/Relativty
He basically built (and advanced) Relativity's open source headset.
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It's always cool to see such projects, and I was discussing about the topic just yesterday.
... but please, don't spend $150 on that. This is limited has it has :
- no controllers (and gamepads aren't spatial),
- no hand tracking (which would be spatial),
- no 6DoF, so you can't move your head or body around, just turn your head around
- a very limited software stack, e.g. no OpenXR (AFAICT),
- a cable to be plugged to a computer, i.e. it's not standalone
so it's basically a more open but not standalone version of the Oculus Go. For context the Go is from 2018 and back then was $200 while being standalone. Note also that the Go is rootable, cf https://developers.meta.com/horizon/blog/unlocking-oculus-go/
There are also other DIY VR HMDs, e.g. https://github.com/relativty/Relativty from 2020 which similar limitations. In fact this made so much buzz back then the founder managed to ride the hype and make (sadly) a VC funded startup. I say sadly because the initial project was all open VR and openness but once the money was locked-in... well I let you check.
So... again this is VERY cool to build but please do not consider this anything but a way to learn. If you do want to play with VR with a limited budget consider instead an accountless (meaning no Meta involved) second hand Meta 2 then Alvr or WiVRn (cf https://lvra.gitlab.io/ for more).
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This is so damn cool I want to throw one together just to tinker with it.
This has been the best year for VR as a whole.
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I am wondering about the software side. Is it just a glorified monitor for your face, or does it have some kind of internal control/OS like a Quest or other commercial headset?
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Oh FFS stop designing things I can and want to build
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Huh, this is kinda prefect for me too, only the refresh rate might be an issue.
I wonder if I could buy cheap no-name headset & fit in that arduino chippy.
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I wonder how this compares to Mañolo's HadesVR/PersephoneVR setup... I think they have 6DoF and use lights embedded in golf balls to act as PS Move sensors
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Overall is that even a deal over a used headset? Even a fully featured non-stripped down one? Like given what features his headset does have, it's comparable to some pretty old headsets... and it likely does even those bare minimum features more poorly than an older used headset would. Not to mention comfort.
Like a 10 year old Rift CV1 has almost as much resolution at 90hz/fps instead of 60. And while it's lenses would be relatively terrible now, they were pretty much the best option of their day, and likely still better than whatever this dude sourced. Not to mention their motion to photon was around 12 ms. The absolute best result this guy can hope for is 16.6ms, and that's only if everything else in the pipeline is faster than the screens refresh rate... maybe it is... but I wouldn't bet on it personally.
I'm sure it was a fun project though.
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