Virtual Reality (VR) has been praised as the next big thing for video gamers and other industry users for some time now. Two years ago, this technology was limited to expensive headsets, full-body motion tracking suits or specialized cameras. However, VR has started to become more accessible on a wider scale in our time, and also, VR accessories has started to become more affordable day by day. With this change, motion tracking have been a very popular and commonly used technology in the industry and it has started to transform into a home-scale technology.
In this blog post we'll provide you with an introduction to motion tracking technologies and devices and share with you why motion tracking devices are so important for the industry.
What Is Motion Tracking?
How Does Motion Tracking Work In VR Technologies?
Motion tracking is a fundamental component of any successful virtual reality (VR) experience and has evolved significantly over the past few years. Motion tracking, also known as motion sensing, allows VR users to interact with their environments in a much more natural way. It tracks the movement of a user’s body and head, and then the data is processed to provide feedback and change the displayed content to make the experience more realistic. Essentially, motion tracking is a computer-generated 3D environment that you can move around in and interact with. When you put on your VR headset, you'll be placed into this world and will be able to explore it as if it were real.
The technology behind motion tracking is extremely complex, but the basic concept is simple enough to understand. Humans are three-dimensional creatures; we move around in an environment that is three-dimensional, so our brains need to be wired to interpret the three-dimensional information in our surroundings. The brain then uses this information to make decisions about what we should do next — whether we should move forward or backward or up or down. In other words, when we look at something, the brain interprets its location relative to our own body based on visual clues such as light and shadow.
The most common form of motion tracking for VR is called inside-out tracking. This type of motion tracking involves sensors placed inside of a VR headset that tracks how it moves around in space. These motion trackers need to be small enough to fit in a VR headset but accurate enough to track movements with precision.
Outside-in tracking relies on cameras or sensors placed in external locations, such as mounted around a room, to track the movements of a user wearing a VR headset. Because outside-in tracking systems do not have restrictions on their size or shape, they can be more accurate than inside-out tracking systems. However, they also require additional equipment and setup time, which makes them less appealing for consumer VR applications.
What is the future of the motion tracking technology?
Motion tracking is the future of technology; it holds so many promises for the future, for games, movies and even for medical purposes. The main reason that has made it popular is that it can take care of the whole body movement and can be used with a variety of devices. For example, you can use it to enhance your performance in sports, or you can use it to improve the quality of your daily activities like walking, running, climbing stairs, etc.
In the not-too-distant future, motion tracking technology can allow us to interact with our devices and environments in completely new ways. We'll be able to control our phones, tablets, and PCs just by moving our hands, arms, and feet. We'll be able to walk through virtual worlds and see breathtaking vistas right in our living rooms. And we may even be able to use motion-tracking technology to help us better understand ourselves.