Manus Begins Pre-orders for Latest VR Gloves, Quantum Metagloves

VR glove creator Manus has launched pre-orders for its latest device, Quantum Metagloves, an input solution targeted at enterprise users. The Netherlands-based company is looking to offer up more precise finger tracking than not only its past VR gloves, but also optical trackers current used in the industry.

Manus launched pre-orders for Quantum Metagloves last week, stating that expected shipping begins sometime in early Q3, which could likely take place in the September timeframe.

The enterprise-focused gloves start at $9,000 (€7,500), and include a perpetual license and a 2-year warranty. That pricing reflects the base unit without 6DOF positional tracking though, but Quantum Metagloves feature optional modules that hook into Xsens, OptiTrack, and SteamVR tracking standards.

If you haven’t seen our hands-on with the Quantum Metagloves, here’s a quick rundown of how they work. Unlike past Manus gloves, the company’s latest uses a magnetic base placed on the back of the palm. Each finger is tracked magnetically via corresponding modules snuggly placed on the each finger’s tip.

While this doesn’t include haptic feedback, the company told us at GDC 2022 that it was working on a haptic version of the Quantum Metagloves, which would include per-finger haptics to enhance immersion in VR.

At any rate, the gloves offered some promising results when it came to beating occlusion and demonstrating fine finger movements. Make sure to check out all of our early impressions from GDC 2022 in March to see it in action and find out more.

Here’s a look at what comes in the box:

  • A set of Manus Quantum Metagloves
  • A perpetual Manus Core Pro license
  • Wireless Manus Dongle
  • Three full sets of finger caps (1/2/3)
  • One full set of finger tapes
  • Three sets of liner gloves (S/M/L)
  • Timesync cable
  • Manus Travel Case

Manus is also running a trade-in discount program which will allow owners users of a number of past products to get Quantum Metagloves for €2500 / $3000 off retail price. These include owners of Prime II, Prime II Haptic, Prime II Xsens, Prime X, Xsens Gloves by Manus, and OptiTrack Gloves by Manus. Visit Manus to learn more about trade-ins and pre-orders.

Technical Specifications

  • Signal Latency ≤ 5ms
  • Finger Sensors Absolute position, 3 axis rotation
  • Sensor sample rate 120Hz
  • Battery life 4 hours (swappable)
  • Weight 70 grams
  • Wireless communication High Performance 2.4 Ghz Protocol
  • Wireless range Up to 15 meters
  • Wired communication USB Type-C
  • Finger attachments Finger caps, finger tapes, liner gloves
  • Glove Textiles One size fits all (washable)

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Pre-orders Begin for Manus’ $9000 Quantum Metagloves

During the Game Developers Conference (GDC) back in March data glove specialist, Manus showcased its next-generation of finger tracking gloves, the Quantum Metagloves. Today, the company has announced that pre-orders for the new gloves have begun, with a pair setting customers back an eye-opening $9000 USD (€7500 EUR).

Manus Quantum Metagloves
Quantum Metagloves – Image credit: Manus

Just like Manus’ previous models, the Quantum Metagloves are focused on enterprise use but even so, these are the company’s most expensive gloves to date. They utilise what Manus calls its new Quantum Tracking technology to provide millimetre accurate finger tracking, thus creating precise hand data and recreation of a user’s hand.

In combination with Manus Core software, the Quantum Metagloves can stream hand and finger data directly into Unreal or Unity or record it to export into animation software like Blender and Maya. As you’d expect from $9k gloves, the sensors are adaptable depending on the situation. The stretchable finger caps are designed for quick, comfortable use or use Manus Finger Tape for those action scenes.

“The new Quantum Tracking technology has enabled us to achieve a new level of detail in finger tracking. As part of the detailed and lifelike finger tracking, we’ve also added tracking of the flexion of the palm of the hand,” says Bart Loosman, CEO of Manus in a statement. “As such, this generation of gloves takes the detail of capture to a new level, allowing creators to convey more emotion and intent through their performance than before. In addition, this level of detail will save significant time in cleanup and post-processing, enabling creators to reach their desired results quicker and easier.”

Manus Quantum Metagloves
Quantum Metagloves – Image credit: Manus

Manus Quantum Metagloves Technical Spec

  • Signal Latency – ≤ 5ms
  • Finger Sensors – Absolute position, 3 axis rotation
  • Sensor sample rate – 120Hz
  • Battery life4 hours (swappable)
  • Weight – 70 grams
  • Wireless communication – High Performance 2.4 Ghz Protocol
  • Wireless range – Up to 15 meters
  • Wired communication – USB Type-C
  • Finger attachments – Finger caps, finger tapes, liner gloves
  • Glove Textiles – One size fits all (washable)

The Manus Quantum Metagloves will come in three flavours, the standard model followed by versions compatible with Xsens and OptiTrack systems. They’ll all retail for the same $9000, which includes a perpetual license and a 2-year warranty. Shipping is expected to begin in September.

There’s good news if you’re already a Manus customer as a trade-in offer is available. Should you happen to own the Prime II, Prime II Haptic, Prime II Xsens, Prime X, Xsens Gloves by Manus, or OptiTrack Gloves by Manus then you’ll be eligible for a $3000/€2500 discount.

For the rest of us who don’t have a spare nine grand for VR gloves available then there’s always the new 2.0 hand tracking update for Meta Quest. For all the latest Manus updates, keep reading gmw3.

The VR Job Hub: ARVORE, Manus & AltspaceVR

VR Job Hub

Every weekend VRFocus gathers together vacancies from across the virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) industry, in locations around the globe to help make finding that ideal job easier. Below is a selection of roles that are currently accepting applications across a number of disciplines, all within departments and companies that focus on immersive entertainment.

Location Company Role Link
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Financial Planning & Analysis (Specialist) Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Head of Product Management Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Game Producer Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Game Developer Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Creative Director Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Visual Artist 2D Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Visual Artist 3D Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Game Designer Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Animator Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Narrative Designer Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Graphics Developer Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Network Developer Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior Facilities Analyst Click Here to Apply
Sao Paulo, Brazil ARVORE Senior DevOps Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus Supply Chain Manager Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus Embedded/Firmware Engineer Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus UX/UI Designer for Software Interface in Unity Click Here to Apply
Redmond, Washington, US AltspaceVR Software Engineer Click Here to Apply

Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.

If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).

We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.

Manus Announces SteamVR Tracker for Professional Creators, Pre-orders Now Open

Manus, the Netherlands-based startup behind a number of VR gloves, today announced pre-order availability for the company’s first professional-level SteamVR tracker.

Called the Manus Pro Tracker, the company says the device is designed specifically for SteamVR-based motion capture, virtual production and full-body VR. It’s primarily designed to work with the company’s Prime II Series Motion Capture and Virtual Reality gloves, however an optional strap set can also allow users to mount it to different parts of the body.

Manus Pro Tracker, which is available for pre-order starting today for €300 ($360), uses the company’s interchangeable battery system which promises up to 4.5 hours of battery life with continuous use. Recharging the battery can either be done over USB-C (one-hour charge time) or by using the company’s Manus Charger dock to recharge multiple batteries.

Image courtesy Manus

“After years of using SteamVR Tracking, we are excited to launch our own SteamVR enabled product,” said Bart Loosman, CEO at Manus. “We have been amazed by the accuracy and ease-of-use of this tracking solution for a long time. As one of the very first companies in the world to get access to the SteamVR technology, we hope to improve the workflow of creative professionals around the world with our very own professional tracker.”

Manus says its Pro Tracker includes “the latest sensors of its kind” and more sensors than any SteamVR tracker currently available. The obvious point of comparison is the official HTC Vive Tracker, which is notably heavier than Manus Pro Tracker at 62 g, or 44% lighter than the 89 g Vive Tracker. Another upcoming competitor in the space is the Tundra Tracker, which is headed to Kickstarter in March.

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Manus Reveals Professional-Grade SteamVR Tracker

Enterprise-focused VR hardware maker Manus is today announcing a new take on the SteamVR Tracker.

The company’s new professional-grade Tracker launches pre-orders today. According to the company, the device features more sensors for accurate SteamVR tracking, as well as an interchangeable battery that apparently offers four and a half hours of use on a full charge. Check out a first look at them in the trailer below.

New SteamVR Tracker Revealed

Previously the only other company to make a Tracker peripheral for SteamVR was HTC. The puck-shaped device is tracked by Valve’s base stations just as headsets like the Index and Vive and their respective controllers are. These pucks can be attached to real-world objects and developers can mirror them in VR. You might, for example, use a replica gun in a VR shooter or a racket in a tennis game for added immersion.

Manus itself previously used the Trackers for hand-tracking on its pair of professional-grade gloves. In June of last year, the company launched Polygon, a platform that combined a number of technologies — including the Trackers — for a full-body VR tracking solution. Manus says its new solution is 44% lighter than HTC’s offering, coming in at 62 grams.

Manus hasn’t revealed a price for the new Trackers, but given that it’s intended for use by companies, it’s safe to say it probably won’t be cheap for consumers. SteamVR Trackers, by and large, haven’t been embraced by many games and entertainment apps considering the extra clutter and price they add to already-messy and expensive PC VR setups, but make great sense for enterprise use.

What do you make of the new SteamVR Tracker? Let us know in the comments below!

Manus Introduces its Pro SteamVR Tracking Solution

Manus Pro Tracker

While the closest most consumers have come to hand tracking in virtual reality (VR) is dabbling with Oculus Quest’s built-in system, enterprise and pros using PC VR headsets have had a much greater array of choice. Manus is one company specialising in this particular field, having released its Manus Prime II gloves in 2020. Today, the company has unveiled a new peripheral, its Manus Pro Trackers for SteamVR setups.

Manus Pro Tracker

Manus’ gloves have an array of bend sensors and haptics depending on the model but they always rely on external solutions like the Vive Trackers for 6 degrees of freedom (6DoF) positioning. With the new Manus Pro Trackers that’s no longer the case – where SteamVR is involved.

Manus’ own in-house design has improved the standard Vive Tracker, offering a smaller, lighter product, ideal for attaching to the back of your hand. Weighing in at 62 grams the company states: “The tracker is 44% lighter when compared to available alternatives.” The device also comes with an interchangeable battery providing 4.5 hours of use, then easily swapped over if customers have spares.

Other key features of the Manus Pro Tracker include more sensors than other SteamVR trackers on the market, one-hour charging via a USB-C cable and multiple mounting options. It can be attached to the Prime II gloves, onto any camera through its cold shoe, or onto props using the 1/4″ camera thread adapter and 3M adhesive tape adapter. Plus there’s an optional strap-set to attach the tracker to yourself for full-body tracking.

Manus Pro Tracker

“After years of using SteamVR Tracking, we are excited to launch our own SteamVR enabled product. We have been amazed by the accuracy and ease-of-use of this tracking solution for a long time,” said Bart Loosman, Manus CEO in a statement. As one of the very first companies in the world to get access to the SteamVR technology, we hope to improve the workflow of creative professionals around the world with our very own professional tracker.”

Pre-orders for the Manus Pro Tracker begin today, retailing for €299 EUR. Towards the end of 2020, the company reduced the price of its Prime II range of gloves, so now they start from €1,499 or €2,499 for the haptic version.

VRFocus will continue its coverage of Manus, reporting back with its latest updates.

Manus Drops Prices for its Finger Tracking Gloves, Now Starting from €1,499

Manus Prime 2

Data glove specialist Manus launched its Prime II series back in the summer, offering enterprise customers three models covering a range of variables. Now the company has announced a price drop across the range, with the pro finger tracking gloves now retailing from €1,499 EUR.

Manus Prime 2

Designed for entertainment, education and training, the Manus Prime II range support 11-degrees of freedom (11DoF) tracking including full finger spread as well as overstretching. They have interchangeable batteries which provide 5 hours of continuous usage and a universal mounting system for third-party hardware like the Vive Trackers.

The entry-level Manus Prime II gloves are now almost half the price, down from €2,990 to €1,499. Or if you want haptic feedback the Prime II Haptic gloves now come in at €2,499 instead of €3,990. Lastly, the more specialised Manus Prime II XSens comes in at €3990 with the company’s Manus Core software included.

“We at Manus are super excited about our new pricing, making high-end finger tracking more accessible for creators and developers,” said Bart Loosman, CEO at Manus in a statement. “We felt that the market was waiting for someone to break the mold on expensive tracking hardware, and we felt that should be us.”

Manus Prime II

Manus Core supports multiple tracking systems such as: OpenVR (SteamVR), OptiTrack, Antilatency, Vicon, and ART, and can be used with development tools such as Unreal Engine and Unity.

While Manus products are focused on enterprise use cases, normal consumers can still augment their VR experiences is other ways. bHaptics announced this week that pre-orders have begun for its new TactSuit X Series haptic vests starting from $299. Or then there’s the KAT Walk C omni-directional treadmill which successfully completed s Kickstarter this summer.

For further updates on Manus’ products, keep reading VRFocus.

Manus Polygon Available Now, Offering Full VR Body And Hand Tracking

As announced back in March, orders and licenses for Polygon, the VR body and tracking system from Manus, can now be placed online. Prices for the full Polygon system are not listed, but quotes can be requested on the Manus site.

Manus Polygon is a tracking system that combines Vive Tracker pucks in addition to hand-tracking via a separate glove in order to provide a full-body solution for enterprise VR. To achieve this, the system uses 5 Vive Trackers in total — one on each foot, one on your waist and one of the back of each hand — in combination with Manus’ fully-body inverse kinematics solver and its Prime II Series gloves.

The idea is that the system is easy to set up and eliminates the need for any kind of full body suit to achieve full body tracking. The system also supports multiple users for multiplayer and can produce synchronized and accurately proportioned human avatars from the data. There is a 45 second calibration process, and the finger tracking from the gloves can measure 2 joints per finger and with 11DoF tracking.

Obviously this is an enterprise-focused project, so don’t expect to see any of this integration in your favorite VR games.

While we haven’t tried Polygon ourselves, we did try Manus gloves on one of our episodes of the VR Culture Show in November last year, which you can watch below.

Purchasing the Polygon pack also includes plugins to implement the system in Unity and Unreal. One year licenses for the Polygon system are available to order via a quote on the Manus site now.

The post Manus Polygon Available Now, Offering Full VR Body And Hand Tracking appeared first on UploadVR.

Manus’ Latest Glove Series ‘Prime II’ Offers Hot-Swappable Batteries & 11DoF Finger Tracking

Manus Prime II

Oculus Quest’s free hand tracking may offer a novel way of playing with menus or interacting with a couple of videogames but there are limitations. For those who do need highly accurate hand and finger tracking then you’ll need to buy a data glove, and Manus VR has just announced its latest Prime II models.

Manus Prime 2 Haptic

Manus made the official announcement during AWE 2020’s online event. The previous Prime range which consisted of three different models have been completely overhauled, not only with new tech but also a snazzy redesign in white with black accents.

The main enhancement is for the all-important finger tracking. The Prime II gloves now support 11-degrees of freedom (11DoF) tracking which allow for full finger spread tracking as well as overstretching, ensuring even the finest motor movements are catered for.

Another useful feature is the new battery. Able to provide 5 hours of continuous usage, the battery is interchangeable and the gloves reconnect without any need to recalibrate, great for those long VR design meetings. Users have the option to charge the batteries during use or buy spares to ensure wireless freedom.

Manus VR Prime 2

With its new white design you’ll want to keep the gloves clean so all the electronics can be easily removed for that purpose. The glove fabric can also be purchased separately so each team member can have their own set – great for hygiene – simply swapping the sensors when needed.

There’s also a universal mounting system for the addition of third-party hardware like the Vive Trackers. The Prime II and Prime II Haptic gloves come supplied as standard with mounts for SteamVR/Vive and Oculus connectors, easily slotting on top of the battery compartment.

The launch of the Manus Prime II range takes place later this month with prices starting from €2990 EUR/$3500 USD for the basic Prime II gloves. The Prime II Haptic gloves come in at €3990/$4600, while the XSENS version is €3990/$4499. As a special offer for North American customers, Knoxlabs is doing a deal until the end of June where if you pre-order the Prime II you’ll get the previous Manus Prime gloves for free. As Manus continues to improve its product lineup, VRFocus will let you know.

The VR Job Hub: Twisted Pixel Games, Manus VR & Drifter Entertainment

The virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) industries are wonderfully diverse when it comes to the job roles available, always looking to hire the best talent to work on exciting projects. Whether you’ve been an avid fan of the tech for a while or are already involved in some way, today’s VR Job Hub has plenty of new roles which can help you become more involved and shape VR/AR’s future.

Location Company Role Link
Austin, Texas Twisted Pixel Games Character Modeler Click Here to Apply
Austin, Texas Twisted Pixel Games Gameplay Programmer Click Here to Apply
Austin, Texas Twisted Pixel Games Technical Designer Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus VR Marketing Specialist Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus VR Business Development Manager – AsiaPac Region Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus VR Senior Machine Learning Engineer Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus VR Senior Software Developer Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus VR Software Engineer Click Here to Apply
Geldrop, The Netherlands Manus VR Senior Game Developer Click Here to Apply
Seattle, WA Drifter Entertainment Senior Level Designer Click Here to Apply
Seattle, WA Drifter Entertainment Senior Gameplay Engineer Click Here to Apply
London, UK VRFocus Staff Writer Click Here to Apply

Don’t forget, if there wasn’t anything that took your fancy this week there’s always last week’s listings on The VR Job Hub to check as well.

If you are an employer looking for someone to fill an immersive technology related role – regardless of the industry – don’t forget you can send us the lowdown on the position and we’ll be sure to feature it in that following week’s feature. Details should be sent to Peter Graham (pgraham@vrfocus.com).

We’ll see you next week on VRFocus at the usual time of 3PM (UK) for another selection of jobs from around the world.