Valve introduced its fresh Index viewer lately, but the Bellevue firm has already looked at several ways to enhance it. It is learned from the viewer's presentation case where Valve's hardware engineers and Gabe Newell, his renowned CEO, spoke, as demonstrated by a video published on YouTube.
In specific, Valve is attempting to find out how to produce a cable-free version of the phone, but also how to enhance ergonomics and Valve Index design, which will make the device lighter. The present Valve Index version features a5-meter3-in-1 cable with a1-meter swivel that provides USB 3.0, DisplayPort 1.2 contacts and a 12 V power supply. In the case of Oculus Rift S, it is a 2 in 1 type link cable with USB 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.2: it is very voluminous wires in both instances.
Newell describes Index as a "milestone" in the history of the company, above all praising the controllers and the capacity to show high-fidelity graphics. He adds that the product's marketing is not the end of growth, but rather the start, with the aim of extending its sale to other regions besides the United States and Europe, where Valve Index is already accessible for purchase at this moment.
"We are studying different techniques of making a cable-free version of Index," Newell said. "We have plenty of ideas behind the optical system to improve the display and technology. There are plenty of opportunities to increase the size of the tracked area and improve other technology aspects." In some specifications, the Valve Index is already superior to rival viewers. The viewer, for instance, works at 120 Hz with backward compatibility of 90 Hz and experimental mode of 144 Hz. Note that the refresh rate is very essential in terms of the pixel's persistence and lighting time, which drops to 330 ms at 144 Hz, which improves the image sharpness even when the head moves. The resolution on two complete RGB LCD displays per pixel is 1440x1600 pixels per eye with 50 percent more subpixels than OLEDs, which helps to decrease the impact of "screen gate." Users can manually adjust the interpupillary distance and pupil extraction (distance from the lens to the eyes) thanks to the existence of two separate displays. Index utilizes tilted lenses with two elements. The display displays are also inclined 5 degrees outwards to enhance the external field of vision and balance the internal field of vision. The Index speakers do not touch the ears with respect to the audio system so that the noise can grow freely. The speakers convey a 180-degree dispersion trajectory in their complete frequency range.
The Valve Index viewer has worldwide shuttered stereoscopic RGB cameras intended to deliver stereo transmission. Valve Index utilizes SteamVR 2.0 sensors that are compatible with SteamVR base stations 1.0 and 2.0 for the room user monitoring portion.
To detect intentions, each Valve Index controller utilizes 87 sensors to monitor hand and finger position, motions and user pressures. Low latency finger monitoring contributes to the embedded force sensors that can measure variations in pressure varying from a light contact to an intense close.
The unit offers a sequence of customization precautions with a removable face seal with a magnetic interface. The front compartment also involves a Type 3 USB port, developed specifically for lovers of alteration.
For the full kit with controller viewer and base stations, Valve Index can be bought on Steam for € 1,079. The primary competitors are HTC Vive Cosmos (1440x1700 pixels per eye, total 2880x1700) and Oculus Rift S (1280x1440 pixels per eye, total 2560x1440).
