Shadow Creator’s new Shadow VR System is the new kid on the block and they are changing up the VR experience. Namely, they are outpacing their nearest competitors by bringing to market a standalone 6DoF VR headset. These features enable Shadow Creator to lose VR users from the shackles of computers and cables. Even better they are doing it at a reasonable $503 USD price point. I perused their site to learn a little about this new VR beauty. Let’s have a look to see some of the tasty VR morsels contained in the Shadow VR.
Free walking in the virtual reality world
Firstly, the Shadow VR system is untethered. That’s right you are totally free to move about in your space unhindered by nasty cables and concern of entanglement. Yep, you can jump, twist, and shout to your heart’s delight!
So how is this possible? The Shadow VR is equipped with its own Inside-Out Positioning module. So what is this and how does it work? I hopped over to Microsoft where I found their Mixed Reality: Enthusiast Guide and drilled down to the tracking system information. Here’s the short answer:
Inside-out tracking system use two visible-light low-resolution cameras to observe features in your environment and fuses this information with inertial measurement unit (IMU) data to determine a precise position of the device in your environment.
Additionally, the head positioning boasts dual six degrees of freedom (6DoF) cameras! So if you want to look inside or underneath something, no problem! Need to jump out of the way? Thanks to the 6DoF real-time pose processing, the Shadow VR has got you covered. Here’s a quick visual primer depicting each of the degrees of freedom.
Bluetooth Touch Controllers
Like the headset, the Shadow VR controllers offer mobility and freedom. If I understand correctly the Shadow VR is outfitted with a self-developed (proprietary) Bluetooth controller. Also contained within are a nine-axis high-precision gyroscope and onboard ray tracing capability. Owing to these combinations of technologies the Shadow VR is said to offer realistic and natural inputs and gestures.
Under The Hood
Here are a few specs for those of you who like to drill down deeper under the hood. Shadow Creator describes the Shadow VR as a High-performance VR machine. The device is equipped with:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
- Low distortion Fresnel ultra-thin optical lens
- High image quality, 2560X1440 high-resolution display
Multi-User Experience | Share with friends
According to the website the Shadow VR offers a multi-user experience. This part is somewhat sketchy perhaps owing to the translation from Chinese to English. Perhaps the info will ring clearer to you. Here’s what they say:
From one person to everyone’s participation, Yingchuang is committed to continuously improving and innovating VR hardware. Bring you more new software experiences and new ways of playing, so that you can enjoy wonderful moments with your friends anytime, anywhere.
Source Images: Shadow Creator Website
My take on the Shadow VR from an Industrial Design perspective is that it appears to be a well-crafted product. The chosen technologies allow the form to be minimalist and uncluttered. I’d love to experience the thrill of the immersive experience the Shadow VR has to offer!
