London-based company Opto has designed a new mobile-based head-mounted display (HMD) which claims to be the first ever to have its own integrated sound, and it will be available in time for the holidays.
This is a HMD that is aimed at the casual user, and it features integrated sound to allow users to engage with shorter user-generated videos, movies, and 360 degree pictures.
Mahdi Yahya, CEO of Opto, said in a press release: “We expect to capture a very significant share of the global VR market. Casual users have been largely ignored by the largest headset manufacturers, who have concentrated almost exclusively on the high-end gaming market. Many casual users want to watch and experience VR films, photographs, and games, but are intimidated by the products that are currently in the market. Opto Air has been designed to make VR accessible to everyone.”
The COO and co-founder of Opto, Richard Stephens, also added why sound was such a big factor in the creation of the Opto Air: “High-quality sound is an incredibly important part of an immersive and enjoyable virtual reality experience. Many other headset manufacturers have treated audio as an ‘add on’, but actually it’s just as important as the visuals. Opto Air recognises that.”
The Opto Air is said to become available around Christmas time, and it will have the price tag of £98 (GBP). It will also be available in various colors, such as blue, yellow, greay, orange, and lilac. If you want to check it out before its launch, it will be available to try out from 16th – 20th October in the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai.
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