XRSpace takes virtual reality to a whole new level with 5G connectivity
XRSpace, the start-up founded by former CEO and a co-founder of HTC Corp Peter Chou, is bringing the world’s first social VR platform designed for mass-market users – Mova – with 5G connectivity.
Taking VR to the next level, Chou said that it is a very exciting time as 5G is coming.
“In 2002, we had a 2.5G data network and the first smartphone – O2 XDA – started coming out. We are now entering into a 5G era. 5G is a new network architecture and we need to create a new experience as we did in 2002,” he said.
Chou founded HTC in 1997 and left the company in 2015.
Mova is using AI and computer vision technology to create a new experience through 5G.
Today, Chou said the smartphone experience of togetherness is primitive because it fails to capture the full range of human expression and emotion.
“So, beyond the smartphone, what we really wanted to do is to create the social reality of the future. To create a world where people can meet physically and virtually in a much more similar than human interaction, in a much more immersive and interactive and take human interaction to a new level.
“We wanted to create a new communication experience that is meaningful for 5G,” he said.
Moreover, he said the mission is to bring people together through the power of 5G XR, surpassing the limited experience of smartphones today and the goal is to take XR to the masses by redefining how people connect, socialise, and collaborate by simplifying the hardware and user experience.
XR means extended reality which is a combination of virtual reality and augmented reality.
“When we started three years ago, we have been laser-focused at putting regular customers in everything we do,” he said.
Mova is an untethered headset with cameras to pick up hand gestures and track the wearer’s motions and can create a lifelike full-body avatar from a selfie.
Importance of togetherness
Mova is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Mobile XR Platform and fully portable anywhere with 5G, LTE, or WiFi connection and requires no additional controllers to navigate the virtual world.
XRSpace global launch will be carried out in collaboration with leading technology, telecom and content partners starting with Qualcomm Technologies, Deutsche Telekom, and Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom.
It will be first available in Taiwan, followed by Europe, the US and China. It is priced at $599.
Chou said that it lets users perform real-world actions like shaking hands or shooting a basketball in a natural way.
XRSpace is also building the VR platform on which services, games and social activities can be accessed and experienced.
Foremost among these spaces is MagicLohas, a combination of experiences promoting healthy and active lifestyles through VR.
One can simply hang out with friends in relaxing landscapes, or exercise – walking, biking, dancing, doing yoga, patented Magic TaiChi sessions in immersive environments of naturally meditative ambiences. Together with a diverse team of sports, yoga, dancing, music, meditation, health and therapy experts, XRSpace Manova provides a fun and interactive contents designed to enhance everyday wellness.
“During this lockdown, we all witnessed firsthand the importance of togetherness. In the XRSpace Manova, we’ve created a digital avatar, social gestures and plenty of places where people can be together, experience everyday social situations without the limits of distance.
“We will bring human interaction and communication to a new level beyond texts, emojis, and 2D videos. We are glad that we can deliver that much-needed human intimacy, helping the world adapt to the new normal with our wonderful products,” Sting Tao, President of XRSpace, said.
Jitesh Ubrani, research manager at International Data Corporation (IDC), said, the spread of the virus is having the opposite effect on demand as an increasing number of consumers and employees stay indoors and look to AR and VR solutions for ways to collaborate with colleagues and entertain themselves and their families.
Strong growth for standalone VR headsets
Despite an expected fall in AR and VR shipments of 10.5% in the first quarter followed by a 24.1% decline in the second quarter, research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) expects a rebound in the second half of 2020 will result in total shipments of nearly 7.1 million units for the year, up 23.6% from 2019.
Long-term growth will be strong throughout the forecast period with shipments growing to 76.7 million units in 2024, resulting in a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 81.5%.
According to IDC, standalone VR headsets will grow 30.4% in 2020 and will represent 43.8% of all AR/VR headset shipments during the year. Vendors are targeting both consumer and commercial buyers with the latest generation of standalone products and they’re finding success in both camps.
On the consumer side, gaming continues to drive growth, while on the commercial side training and collaboration are gaining additional traction. IDC expects the commercial segment to grow at a five-year CAGR of 71.9%.
Future iterations of such products are also expected to offer pass-through AR capabilities through the use of outward-facing cameras.
Standalone VR headset shipments will grow from 3.09m in 2020 to 25.25m units in 2024 while AR headset will grow from 0.41m in 2020 to 24m units in 2024.
Tom Mainelli, Group Vice- President for Consumer and Devices Research at IDC, said that the interest in VR within the enterprise continues to ramp up as more companies use the technology to drive a wide range of training scenarios.