IC Real Tech, provider of disruptive video hardware and software solutions for enterprise and consumer applications, and Carl Zeiss AG, the Germany-based optics and opto-electronics giant, are announcing a virtual reality partnership that will make it easy for end-users to create and experience virtual reality videos.
IC Real Tech’s dual-sensor video camera technology captures from floor-to-ceiling and completely around itself. Via tablets or smartphones the megapixel camera and its proprietary IC720 software app deliver 360-degree x 360-degree viewing that is monitored in real-time or recorded to a separate recorder or cloud for viewing later. When used with a virtual reality (VR) headset, the camera and app deliver a fully-immersive VR view that gives the user the sensation of experiencing an entire environment from the camera’s perspective.
Later this year IC Real Tech will bring to market its first 360×360 cameras – a 4K version for professional applications (IC720, MSRP $3,000) and a portable version for the mainstream consumer market (ALLie, MSRP $400). ALLie is one of four cameras selected to be compatible with the new YouTube 360 video channel that grants end users the ability to create and share their own self-created immersive VR content.
The ZEISS VR ONE is the premium open platform VR headset on the market. It is also the first and only VR product to utilize ZEISS’ leading-edge optical design and precision optics which delivers an outstanding VR experience. The smartphone is inserted into the VR ONE to display a sharp, vibrant image with a large 100-degree field-of-view. The VR ONE takes full advantage of the smartphone’s built-in accelerometer to smoothly change point-of-view within the VR environment as the wearer’s head is moved.
The VR ONE’s unique precision tray system accommodates smartphones with screen sizes ranging from 4.7 to 5.2 inches. Trays and free CAD data for 3D tray printing are currently available for popular smartphones including Apple iPhone 6, LG G3, Google Nexus 5, Samsung Galaxy S4, S5, and S6, with trays for other phones in the works. The VR ONE headset ($120 MSRP) and VR ONE trays (start at $9.90 MSRP) are currently available from ZEISS www.vrone.us, and through authorized resellers.
Last month in Las Vegas, both companies impressed attendees by demonstrating their new technologies together at their respective exhibits during ISC West and NAB tradeshows.
“Immersive virtual reality video is rapidly becoming recognized as an exciting new medium that’s widely expected to become the cornerstone of a mass market for movies, concerts, sports, special events, and personal user-made VR videos,” said IC Real Tech CEO Matt Sailor. “Together our 360×360 camera and the ZEISS VR ONE headset deliver a deeply engaging experience like those depicted in futuristic science fiction movies. We are committed to working with ZEISS to bring the products to the masses.”
“’VR for Everyone’ is the ZEISS tagline for the VR ONE, an affordable VR headset designed to work with multiple platforms, brands and models of smartphones,” said ZEISS multimedia devices director, Andreas Klavehn. “We’re excited to partner with IC Real Tech, exploring ways to deliver an easy-to-use, high-performance VR ecosystem that will allow enterprises and consumers to create, share, and experience immersive VR video content.”
