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Atari Founder's New VR Tech Promises Multi-User, Wireless Experience
Atari and Chuck E. Cheese Founder Nolan Bushnell has launched a virtual reality company called Modal VR, and is already showing off a prototype of his new system.
Modal VR's system includes a VR headset, plus a full-body tracking "suit," both of which are tracked using sensors mounted around a room. According to Modal VR, these can accommodate a space of up to 900,000 square feet, and each server unit or "VR Fabricator" can track up to nine users.
Modal VR won't be directly competing with existing VR headsets, though. While no price point has been set yet, the system will be targeted at businesses and probably be well over budget for the vast majority of consumers. The idea is for businesses to use the technology to set up virtual reality "arcades," according to TechCrunch.
Check out the video of a Modal VR demo in action below. While it says it's showing "actual footage" of a Modal VR application, the footage has clearly been mocked up a bit to include the two actors in the scene.
[Source: TechCrunch]
Our Take
Without getting a chance to try out the tech myself, there's not much to go on here other than the enthusiasm shown by the TechCrunch reporter. Assuming this all works as described, Modal VR's approach could mean a lot more VR headsets out in the world, which means there will be that many more reasons to develop VR software. Seems like a good deal.
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