AMD's 'All-In-One' Virtual And Augmented Reality Headset Sulon Q, No Extra Hardware Needed
CPU and GPU powerhouse AMD has just unveiled their partnership with Sulon as they unveil their own virtual and augmented reality headset called the Sulon Q. This new kid on the block requires no external hardware.
The unveiling took place as the 2016 Game Developer Conference began and AMD has entered the VR market with a strong contender if their initial pitch for what the Sulon Q represents holds up. Perhaps the biggest selling point is the power inside the headset which means it doesn't require a PC or console to run - it's the "world’s first and only all-in-one, tether-free, “wear and play” headset", boasts AMD and Sulon.
The other major feature for Sulon Q is the pairing of virtual reality and augmented reality thanks to front facing cameras, much like Valve's HTC Vive. AMD also say it's working closely with Microsoft on Windows 10 because of the promising Holographics API they have for HoloLens, which uses augmented reality to 'project' into the real world through special glasses. AMD and Sulon combine this in Sulon Q.
While the headset is a standalone piece of hardware, AMD promise it will deliver "console-quality graphics and powerful processing" so there's no minimum hardware requirement barrier to using Sulon Q, which eliminates compatibility issues and costly purchases for upgrades. It uses the latest AMD FX-8800P processor and the Radeon R7 chipsets. It uses a "revolutionary Heterogeneous System Architecture", which is fancy talk for blending CPU and GPU together.
The hardware supports DirectX 12 and Vulkan through a 2560x1440 OLED display with a 110 degree field of view. Spatial audio is also important for the experience as it simulates where sounds should be coming from and the Sulon Q uses AstoundSound technology for their headsets 3D spatial audio. Dual noise-cancelling microphones are embedded also.
On the subject of spatial, AMD and Sulon are confident in 'spatial redirection' which should let the headset make efficient use of whatever room you're physically in to support much larger environments virtually by subtle redirection. The idea is to not to limit the user to a single viewpoint.
The latest VR/AR headset has exploded onto the scene with some of the most promising perks yet in the emerging virtual reality market. The idea of not having to be tied - or tethered - to PCs or consoles is certainly a major plus.
There's no official date yet but AMD for the Sulon Q are aiming for late Sping 2016.
