New VR Controllers. HTC Vive mid-gen upgrade?

[christianled59]

I just got back from Steam Dev days the other day and I'm surprised nobody's posted this on here yet. At the event, Valve was prototyping a new virtual reality controller. I did not get to personally try it (there was a pretty big line), but I did get to see people using it. 

It attaches to the hand like a clip so that you do not have to constantly hold them. There are also sensors that detect if your hand is open or closed. Supposedly, it is capable of tracking individual fingers. Those who got to use them say they're much more comfortable than the Vive's controllers and even venture to say they're more comfortable than Oculus Touch. 

 

There is no word if this is going to be apart of next gen's headsets or if it'll be released as an upgrade for current Vive owners; or even if it'll be released at all.

 

The controllers hold on nicely and the straps are supposedly only there to make people comfortable with throwing their hands around.

 

Quote

 

The new SteamVR controller prototypes have a much smaller footprint handprint than what’s in the hands of HTC Vive users today. The prototypes are not so much held as they are (optionally) gripped; a band hooking over the side of the user’s palm connects the core of the controller to a sort of backhand gripper which appears to keep the controller attached to the hand even while it isn’t being held.

 

http://www.roadtovr.com/first-look-at-valves-new-vr-controller-prototype/

 

 

[ARikozuM]

So I can finally slap my friends when they mess up in VR? F#CKING FANTASTIC!

[Guest]

Somehow reminded me of Iron Man hands. Just make the pad light up and then yeah

[Rune]

Those look dope as heck.

[christianled59]

1 minute ago, Rune said:

Those look dope as heck.

Indeed. My only concern is how easy they'll be to develop for. I'd like to know a bit more details on how the sensors work.

[LePawel]

1 hour ago, christianled59 said:

Indeed. My only concern is how easy they'll be to develop for. I'd like to know a bit more details on how the sensors work.

Same as current controllers by the looks of it, sensors looks exactly the same. And the button count seems same / very close as well. Looks like an ergonomics re-design, not a functional one.

[Sakkura]

Luke mentioned this on the WAN show. 

[Sky Daddy]

Good that they don't settle on a design yet, VR is too fresh for standards and status quo.

 

I don't think they can beat the touch controllers though.

[Thony]

Interesting design. I like the idea.

[christianled59]

6 hours ago, LePawel said:

Same as current controllers by the looks of it, sensors looks exactly the same. And the button count seems same / very close as well. Looks like an ergonomics re-design, not a functional one.

No, not the track sensors that determine where it is in the room. The sensors that track the fingers. It is not the exact same. Trust me, I've been developing for the vive for about 6 months

[christianled59]

5 hours ago, Sky Daddy said:

Good that they don't settle on a design yet, VR is too fresh for standards and status quo.

 

I don't think they can beat the touch controllers though.

I guess we'll see. I really like the touch controllers, much better than the vive. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try this myself, so I can't make a conclusion. It is true the finger tracking is better though.

[LePawel]

29 minutes ago, christianled59 said:

No, not the track sensors that determine where it is in the room. The sensors that track the fingers. It is not the exact same. Trust me, I've been developing for the vive for about 6 months

Oh, these, no clue, my bet is on same proximity stuff found in HMDs, or some physical trigger style thing. And I've had a couple of Vives at the office for the past year too, no need to brag about it though   And after another look at the article, it looks like it's got 3 states (open, half, closed), so it's not exactly a revolution.

[ARikozuM]

10 hours ago, christianled59 said:

I guess we'll see. I really like the touch controllers, much better than the vive. Unfortunately, I didn't get to try this myself, so I can't make a conclusion. It is true the finger tracking is better though.

Middle finger salutes will be a thing?

[christianled59]

57 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Middle finger salutes will be a thing?

Sure will. 

[ARikozuM]

1 minute ago, christianled59 said:

Sure will. 

There's no button for what I'm looking for, but have a "thumbs up"!

[christianled59]

11 hours ago, LePawel said:

Oh, these, no clue, my bet is on same proximity stuff found in HMDs, or some physical trigger style thing. And I've had a couple of Vives at the office for the past year too, no need to brag about it though   And after another look at the article, it looks like it's got 3 states (open, half, closed), so it's not exactly a revolution.

According to one quote, I can't be arsed to find it, there is nothing in the technology limiting it from individual finger tracking. I guess we'll have to see when it gets send to devs.

[christianled59]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

There's no button for what I'm looking for, but have a "thumbs up"!

Perhaps if they decided to track the thumb. I know that you can do that with the touch controllers though.

[ARikozuM]

Just now, christianled59 said:

Perhaps if they decided to track the thumb. I know that you can do that with the touch controllers though.

The Vive only allows the index to point at things but aside from that not much else can be done.

[christianled59]

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

The Vive only allows the index to point at things but aside from that not much else can be done.

Yeah. I honestly can't wait to get rid of physical stuff. I'm waiting for nerve gear.

[moderategamer]

 

[christianled59]

15 minutes ago, moderategamer said:

 

I've seen that. That video didn't do such a great job with it. We do mixed reality at my studio for trailers. Check out some other vids if you can, it's pretty damn cool.

[moderategamer]

7 hours ago, christianled59 said:

I've seen that. That video didn't do such a great job with it. We do mixed reality at my studio for trailers. Check out some other vids if you can, it's pretty damn cool.

Will do just saw it and thought it was pretty cool.