Intel Scientist Hints At Camera Accessory For HTC’s Vive VR Headset

It seems like chip giant Intel has been quietly working on improving HTC Vive’s virtual reality headset experience.

Dimitri Diakopoulos, an Intel scientist, teased a depth-sensing camera for the Vive headset on Twitter. The image shows the camera accessory attached at the centre of the HTC’s VR headset. Although the details of the device were not revealed, Diakopoulos did mention that the piece included six additional cameras.

“I felt that VR needed a solid unicorn peripheral with six additional cameras,” the scientist tweeted before deleting the post.

The accessory is said to be based on Intel’s RealSensetech and might even lead to better tracking of hands, among other improvements. Another thing mentioned is that each camera in the device weighs 10 grams and it maintains the headset’s balance point, as per Tom’s Hardware website.

It is not clear if the device will be limited to developers or will reach general public as well. It is worth mentioning that the HTC Vive VR headset uses motion tracking sensors, which do not track the wearer’s hands. We are likely to hear more about it at the upcoming Intel Developer Forum, scheduled for August 16-18 in San Francisco.

HTC in June started selling the Vive VR headset online on vive.com website. The shipping is currently limited to a 24 countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States.

As per some reports, the company is partnering with computer giant HP to launch Vive-branded PCs as well. The PCs will come bundled with the company’s Vive VR headsets.

HTC Vive was first unveiled at MWC 2015. The company is also said to be planning to spin off a separate subsidiary for handling its VR business.