Natural Hand Tracking in VR: Uplevel Your Experience
When the concept of virtual reality broke into popular culture in the early ‘90s, it looked far different than it does today. At the time, the technologies powering these early headsets were cutting-edge. Of course, that’s no longer the case. In the 2020s, even entry-level consumer VR headsets have leapfrogged these devices in terms of power, comfort, and ease of use.
With that said, today’s VR experiences still have room to grow, and one exciting development in the field is natural hand tracking. Are you curious about this new method of manipulating virtual objects? Keep reading for a complete breakdown of natural hand tracking in VR–and why it’s something you need to know about.
What is Natural Hand Tracking in VR?
Natural hand tracking is just what it sounds like–a way of recording your hands’ movements and recreating them in a VR environment. These systems are based on specialized sensors designed to watch the position and movement of your hands.
When that information gets sent to your VR headset or computer, it can create a set of “virtual hands” that precisely mirror your actual hand movements.
How Natural Hand Tracking in VR Changes the Game
Traditionally, VR systems have used motion controllers to allow users to manipulate virtual worlds and objects. Some of these controllers are more reliable than others; however, they all add a layer of separation between the virtual world and the user.
Meanwhile, non-tech-savvy people experiencing virtual reality for the first time may find these devices difficult or confusing to use. And while “dataglove” peripherals allowed for some level of hand tracking at this point in VR history, these devices were pricey and needed to be carefully calibrated.
Natural hand tracking in VR eliminates all of these issues, allowing people to interact as directly as possible with virtual environments. A perfect example of the benefits of this technology can be seen in Ultraleap’s well-known “Blocks” demo. As its name suggests, this program lets users hold and stack virtual building blocks.
“Blocks” may sound like a simple application of VR–after all, building blocks are normally a toy for children–but recreating this activity in a virtual environment is far more complex than you might think. The demo relies on Ultraleap’s sensors, skeletal tracking system, and development engine to successfully recreate this activity. Or, in the company’s own words: “Being able to stack building blocks is a core milestone in child development. By solving this simple but fundamental interaction, you solve fundamental challenges in VR.”
Benefits of Natural Hand Tracking in VR
Do you think natural hand tracking in VR is too advanced, expensive, or complex for your organization? If so, think again. These days, natural hand tracking is:
Intuitive. For the vast majority of people, nothing is more natural than moving objects with their hands–making it the most straightforward VR control method.
Simpler than you might expect. The tracking sensors offered by Ultraleap are small and easy to set up.
Highly affordable. While hand tracking is the “next big thing” in virtual reality, the sensors powering this development won’t break the bank.
Simple add-on for Pico. Through a partnership with Ultraleap, the industry leader in hand tracking technology, Pico standalone headsets support hand tracking through a simple add-on device.
Built into Varjo. If your organization relies on Varjo-brand headsets, you won’t even have to purchase a separate sensor to benefit from hand tracking.
With all these benefits in mind, there’s no need to wait any longer to add hand tracking capabilities to your VR devices. In fact, holding off on this upgrade for too long could put your organization’s VR fleet in the unpleasant position of playing catch-up.
Getting It From the Right Source
If your organization plans to introduce any technology related to VR or AR, finding the right supplier matters. Buying individual headsets and accessories works on the consumer level, however, companies need fleets of compatible devices for their VR strategies to take off. It’s also a good idea for larger organizations to find a VR partner that can deliver technical support, training, and related services.
MACE Virtual Labs is the leading name in turnkey VR and AR solutions in the enterprise world. Over the years, many satisfied customers have worked with MACE VL–including well-known universities, the United States Armed Forces, and corporations like Lockheed Martin and ExxonMobil.
Whether you’re planning to add natural hand tracking to your current VR system, look for other accessories compatible with your headsets, or build a new VR fleet from the ground up, reach out to the team at MACE VL today.