Yes, VR is still chugging along … in fact, HTC will be releasing their Next-gen VR Headset names Project Proton probably this fall!
Taken from Engadget … While HTC is betting its VR future on the modular Vive Cosmos for now, it’s also been working on next-gen lightweight headsets, under the title “Project Proton,” that CEO Yves Maitre said will resemble “really, really close to normal glasses.” Well, judging by the renders we received, this is debatable, but these wearables certainly seem more compact than the current crop of VR devices.
In a statement sent to Engadget, a company rep said “Project Proton is a prototype of a future XR glasses-style device from HTC Vive that we hope to hear feedback on from the community as we continue to work on the product.” We have absolutely no info on specs, but Project Proton does confirm HTC’s intention to shift focus to mixed reality use cases, as well as adding 5G connectivity — be it internal or external — to its future headsets.
Project Proton covers two form factors: an all-in-one headset which we shall call “Proton AIO” for now, and an “all-in-two” headset which we shall nickname “Proton Glass.” Upon closer look, both headsets appear to feature stereo front-facing cameras which are likely for inside-out tracking, though it’s also possible that these will be used for passthrough view of the outside world. The visors are insanely slim, so both headsets should weigh noticeably less than current devices, plus they will less likely hit the wall or be hit by one’s controllers, if any. That said, it’s unclear how much of an impact this will have on the field of view.
Read the rest over at Engadget