Occipital Unveils Bridge Virtual Reality Headset Exclusively For iPhones And It’s Impressive
VR and AR startup, Occipital just unveiled its Bridge Virtual Reality headset. The San Francisco-based firm's VR headset has been created exclusively for iPhones and it packs in both mixed reality and 6DoF (degrees of freedom) positionally-tracked virtual reality technologies. The device has various camera enhancements built-in, expanding the iPhone's capabilities significantly for mixed reality applications.
Occipital remarked, “This is what we've always dreamed of. This is the bridge between fantasy and reality. Where virtual characters can enter our world and interact with our environment as if they were really there. Or where we can enter and immerse ourselves in a virtual world, while still staying comfortably aware of ours.”
The headset includes room-scale, inside-out 6DoF positional tracking capability and boasts a PMMA Optical-Grade Acrylic lens, 60fps refresh rate, and a 326 PPI resolution. The Bridge headset works with iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 7 and iOS 9 or higher.
The most impressive aspect of the Bridge VR headset, however, is its software. Occipital uses its Bridge Engine to power the device. The Bridge Engine is also compatible with Unity 3D. Developers can create projects with Unity 3D, upload them to their iPhone, and experience their product through the Bridge engine.
Mixed reality for the Bridge means that virtual objects can interact with and respond to the real world. This includes object occlusion, physics, and lighting/shadows. Occipital has even created a character for the mixed reality world. “Bridget” is a curious little robot whose core functionality is open source. Developers can use components from her in their own projects or expand Bridget’s capabilities.
Bridget The VR robot, outside her portal
Occipital’s Bridge VR headset can be pre-ordered now and begins shipping in March 2017. The headset can also be purchased for $279 USD without a sensor structure, and $399 with it. The Bridge Explorer Edition is currently available in limited quantities for $499. It includes not only the headset and sensor structure, but a single-button controller, a limited edition Bridge blueprint, and a t-shirt. The Explorer Edition ships by December 16th, just in time for the holidays.
Occipital remarked, “This is what we've always dreamed of. This is the bridge between fantasy and reality. Where virtual characters can enter our world and interact with our environment as if they were really there. Or where we can enter and immerse ourselves in a virtual world, while still staying comfortably aware of ours.”
The headset includes room-scale, inside-out 6DoF positional tracking capability and boasts a PMMA Optical-Grade Acrylic lens, 60fps refresh rate, and a 326 PPI resolution. The Bridge headset works with iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 7 and iOS 9 or higher.
The most impressive aspect of the Bridge VR headset, however, is its software. Occipital uses its Bridge Engine to power the device. The Bridge Engine is also compatible with Unity 3D. Developers can create projects with Unity 3D, upload them to their iPhone, and experience their product through the Bridge engine.
Mixed reality for the Bridge means that virtual objects can interact with and respond to the real world. This includes object occlusion, physics, and lighting/shadows. Occipital has even created a character for the mixed reality world. “Bridget” is a curious little robot whose core functionality is open source. Developers can use components from her in their own projects or expand Bridget’s capabilities.
Bridget The VR robot, outside her portal
Occipital’s Bridge VR headset can be pre-ordered now and begins shipping in March 2017. The headset can also be purchased for $279 USD without a sensor structure, and $399 with it. The Bridge Explorer Edition is currently available in limited quantities for $499. It includes not only the headset and sensor structure, but a single-button controller, a limited edition Bridge blueprint, and a t-shirt. The Explorer Edition ships by December 16th, just in time for the holidays.
