FOVE Seeking Participants for Headset Testing

FOVE Inc., the company behind the FOVE head-mounted display (HMD) that features built-in eye-tracking, has revealed it’s seeking participants to test its headset.

The testing is mainly for the eye-tracking system itself, requiring volunteers to answer questions while wearing the HMD, ensuring its suitable for a wide range of users when it launches. FOVE has already conducted one user test previously, which the company has said was a huge success, so decided to launch another.

FOVE new design

It’ll be run from FOVE’s Tokyo offices at 2-9-5 Stadium Place Aoyama 7F, Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, taking place between Monday 22nd – Friday 26th August 2016. The actual tests will take around 15 minutes per person with three times slots available each day, Slot 1: 10:00 – 12:00; Slot 2: 13:00 – 15:00 and Slot 3: 16:00 – 18:00. When submitting the application form participants will be able to pick 3 slots in the order of preference for the day selected.

Last month at the SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques Conference and Exhibition, FOVE revealed a redesign of its headset. The new design features a more lightweight construction, removing the solid side panels and replacing them with straps instead, pretty much in keeping with headsets like HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Not only does this greatly reduce weight and size, but it also improves wearability and comfort whilst making the product more efficient to produce.

The testing will be done with the new headset, but for those who wear glasses FOVE does state that participants should avoid wearing them, going for contacts instead.

FOVE launched a Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign in May 2015 to bring the project to life, managing to raise $480,650 USD by July 2015. The original estimated shipping date was May 2016, but the company has been keeping backers informed with regular progress updates.

There’s still no concrete release date for launch, but VRFocus will continue its coverage of FOVE, reporting back with any further updates.