Oculus has officially announced the Oculus Rift S, the next version of its virtual reality headset. The new model comes to replace the Rift and has two main features: higher resolution and a series of cameras located inside to track movements without using external sensors.
In terms of specifications, it has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, equivalent to 1280 x 1140 px for each eye. The five cameras are known as Oculus Insight and come to replace the external sensors mounted on the glasses that are included in the first version of the Rift, launched in 2016.
The Oculus Insight cameras are able to detect the position and movement of the hands and body. Another feature is that the Oculus Rift S has an option that allows you to see the near environment without having to remove the headset. This is useful for configuring the environment where you will use the helmet by means of the Guardian tool.
The Rift S also includes two Oculus Touch controls that offer six degrees of freedom to move in virtual reality environments. The helmet has been redesigned and has a headband similar to what we see in other models, such as the PlayStation VR. Oculus said that it has collaborated with Lenovo in the design of the new model.
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The new Oculus virtual reality headset is connected to the computer by means of a cable. According to Jason Rubin, vice president of Oculus, the previous version of the Rift was complicated by the excess of cables and configuration, which is why it was sought to make things easier. At some point, an attempt was made to develop a wireless Rift. However, the technology is not ready yet.
With the Rift S, Oculus offers a robust virtual reality version for enthusiasts who have a PC ready to run virtual reality. For those who seek a more casual experience is Oculus Quest, a model that performs all the processing power in the glasses and has options similar to those of his older brother.