The long-awaited era of virtual reality is finally here, with the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive leading the charge alongside less powerful alternatives like Samsung’s Gear VR and Google’s recently announced Daydream. Despite the already crowded marketplace, companies are still developing alternative virtual experiences for a cut of that not-so-virtual pie.
One of the next big questions when it comes to VR technology is how to get the user’s body into the space. While most of the leading solutions offer controls, VicoVR combines standard VR googles with a Kinect-like interface for wireless body tracking of 19 body joints. This allows the one or two players to step right into a game rather than go through a more disconnected experience with a remote control.
The VicoVR headset supports iOS and Android devices, while the VicoVR Sensor can connect with the headset, the aforementioned VR devices above, or even devices like Apple TV or Android gaming devices. $219 gets VR enthusiasts a bundle that includes the headset, the VicoVR Sensor, and wireless controller by November 2016. The flexible Indiegogo campaign is looking for $75,000 by June 17, 2016.
The combination of a Kinect-like motion sensor with a VR headset seems like a natural evolution from hard-to-set-up solutions like the HTC Vive. VicoVR’s implementation doesn’t inspire confidence, though. A singular sensor can’t possibly compete with how accurate the Oculus or Vive are, but it does do something that’s almost better: introduce a much more affordable, less hassling VR solution to more people.