Google’s Daydream VR offers one of the best mobile virtual reality experiences, and today they announced a new set of experimental features for developers to use on the Lenovo Mirage Solo to take it even further throughout 2018 and beyond.
For the Lenovo Mirage Solo, the first standalone Daydream headset Google has some cool stuff coming. The Mirage Solo can track six degrees of freedom (6DoF), meaning Daydream accounts for your motion up, down, left, right, forwards, and backward. To take advantage of all that tracking, Google has created new 6DoF controllers.
“We’ve also created experimental 6DoF controllers that use a unique optical tracking system to help developers start building with 6DoF features on the Mirage Solo.” – Jonathan Huang, Senior Product Manager, Google AR/VR
Google has created experimental new 6DoF controllers that can track movement and position in space without relying on external cameras. The company says this can enable more natural hand movements when you’re interacting with VR apps. The controllers use optical tracking to follow the movements, meaning there’s no need for external cameras or sensors.
The new controller is not yet available, but some developers have already started testing them; it’s still unclear when the new controllers will be available for its users.
Another new feature is support for using smartphone android apps in virtual reality. This experimental new feature makes it possible to run 2D apps on a virtual screen that floats in your field of vision while wearing a headset. Developers will still need to add Daydream VR support to their 2D apps before you can run them.
Google also announced a new See-Through Mode. Using Google’s WorldSense technology, See-Through Mode allows you to see everything in front of you in real time, even with the headset on. Along with the basic convenience, See-Through Mode also allows for powerful AR experiences, such as adding virtual furniture in your living room to see how it’s supposed to look.
Google says that the test mode for the see-through mode and smartphone app support will be available for developers soon, but there is no confirmation regarding its availability for the end users.
