AMD look to be joining the VR battle with their own offering called the Sulon Q which is a VR/AR headset.
The headset which is currently being developed is an interesting proposition for a number of reasons, the main one being that it’s completely unthethered doing away with the nasty cables that are one of the biggest issues when using a VR headset.
AMD has is cramming a lot into the device which is driven by a built in AMD FX-8800P processor and Radeon R7 GPU. Also on the headset is a 256GB SSD and 8GB of memory which makes it quite powerful considering what’s being squeezed into the space.
The headset will have a resolution of 2560×1440 (OLED) with a 110 degree FOV and a 90Hz refresh rate which is not to be sniffed at. There’s also spatial audio built in.
AMD are managing to squeeze all of this onto the headset by placing the bulk of the hardware in a small box at the back of the device which should also help with balance on the head. With everything on the headset, users won’t require a PC at all and it will produce “console-quality graphics and powerful processing”.
There is not release date or price for the Sulon Q but there are mutterings coming out of GDC that this could be available soon. This is definitely one to watch even it it’s not the most attractive looking VR headset.
Highlights of the Sulon Q
- Distinct “Wear and Play” design – The Sulon Q™ headset lets you take every world anywhere thanks to its simple and intuitive all-in-one, tether-free, “wear and play” design. There are no confusing minimum specs to be concerned with. No tangled wires to hold you back. No external tracking systems for movement or gestures. Everything you need is on-board. Just put it on and go.
- VR and AR: The best of both worlds – Enjoy the best of virtual and augmented reality using Sulon’s advanced Spatial Processing Unit which combines revolutionary, real-time machine vision technologies enabling you to effortlessly enhance the real world through augmented reality applications, and seamlessly transition from the real world to virtual worlds. The Spatial Processing Unit is an innovative mixed reality spatial computer that provides real-time environment mapping and tracking from the inside outward, dynamic virtualization for VR/AR fusion, and gesture recognition.
- Spatial computing with Microsoft Windows® 10 – Enjoy holographic computing interfaces once reserved for science fiction by placing applications in space in your own living room with a large, immersive 110-degree field-of-view. Multi-task like a professional putting transparent or opaque windows where you want using gestures or the wireless keyboard and mouse provided in the box.
- Spatial redirection for endless virtual walks, even in your living room – With some smart perceptual tricks, Sulon’s real-time, spatial technologies let you walk around and explore virtual environments that are seemingly larger than the physical space you’re in. Enjoy a fully interactive VR experience in any space, letting you be a true participant in the virtual world, not just an observer from a single viewpoint or confined to moving using gamepads and controllers.
- Console-quality graphics and powerful processing – The Sulon Q™ headset harnesses the latest in processor technology using the recently launched AMD FX-8800P processor at up to 35W with Radeon™ R7 Graphics leveraging AMD’s Graphics Core Next architecture. The full performance of 4 compute cores and 8 GPU cores are unlocked through a revolutionary Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), enabling the cores to share memory to work together for dramatic performance and efficiency. The result is a solution that is optimized for modern workloads and media formats, capable of driving the latest graphics APIs including DirectX® 12 and Vulkan™, and able to render stunning videogame console-quality visuals on a beautiful 2560×1440 OLED display. The Sulon Q™ headset also integrates AMD’s LiquidVR technologies to help ensure smooth and responsive VR and AR experiences.
- Incredible spatial audio – Using AstoundSound® technology, used by the top game and entertainment studios in the world, the Sulon Q™ headset’s 3D spatial audio lets you hear sounds within a complete spherical soundscape with advanced room simulation software algorithms that provide outstanding depth perception using the headset’s 3.5mm audio jack in combination with custom spatially-optimized Sulon Q™ earbuds. For voice communication, the headset also includes dual noise-cancelling embedded microphones.
More details on the Sulon Q website.
