Having first displayed a new augmented reality (AR) headset design at CES 2018 in January, Chinese technology company ANTVR has today launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign to support the device’s development.
Called MIX, the new AR headset promises to not only offer a small, comfortable form factor but one of its biggest selling features is its wide filed-of-view (FoV), coming in at 96-degrees. While that might not sound a lot in comparison to VR headsets like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive which are both 110-degrees, in relation to AR rivals like Microsoft HoloLens (35-degrees) and Meta 2 (90-degrees) it’s still an improvement.
As for content MIX connects to PC and is designed to be compatible with SteamVR. Existing videogames on SteamVR with a dark background like Beat Saber, Audio Shield, Space Pirate Trainer and Tilt Brush can be used on MIX. And to make development on MIX easy, AntVR has ensure compatibility with the SteamVR SDK.
The Kickstarter campaign is looking to raise $50,000 USD by 15th June, 2018. Funding tiers start from $449 which is for the discounted Super Early Bird pledge, saving $200 off the normal retail price of the standard MIX DK headset. However, there are several version available offering different immersion levels depending on the external kit backers are will to pay for.
So at $539 is the MIX DK ‘inside-out’ version which also comes supplied with a tracking module. The there’s the MIX DK ‘hand-tracking’ model, which comes with a hand-tracking unit and 3DoF controller for $539. Jumping to $569, this tier offers an ‘outside-in’ hand tracking kit and 3DoF controller, while at $629 the eye-tracking module is included with the headset. Or for those with the cash, $909 will net you everything.
Should the campaign be successful AntVR estimates that MIX will ship in December 2018. VRFocus will continue its coverage of ANTVR and the MIX AR headset, reporting back with further updates to the funding campaign.