Cmoar Ltd wants to make VR displays accessible to anyone by removing the cost of the screen itself from the equation. How will they do this? By using your own smart phone.
Consumer interest in VR displays has been on the rise over the last couple of years. Since the first introduction of the Oculus Rift both gamers and those interested in other media applications of the hardware have been chomping at the bit to get their hands on the elusive and powerful hardware.
But what about those individuals who can’t afford to drop a lot of money on a VR display? One thing that the Oculus, Sony’s upcoming VR display, and even Valve’s fledgling experiments in the tech have in common is that the price is somewhat prohibitive for most users.
That is where Cmoar Ltd’s new goggles come in. Rather that depending on custom-built displays, the goggles instead feature a mount for users to insert their own smart phone into. Combined with software that allows synchronization of content, the phone can then be used to mimic many of the functions of products such as the Oculus, even making use of cameras to create Augmented Reality experiences for the user.
What all this means for the consumer is that costs for Cmoar’s VR goggles are significantly less than those of competitors. By removing the screen from the equation — arguably one of the more expensive parts of the equipment to manufacture — Cmoar plans to release their product at somewhere around the $100 mark, making them very affordable for users interested in experimenting with VR but who are unsure they would like to make a greater financial commitment to the medium so early in its lifespan.
What’s more, the product aims to have broad compatibility with a large number of phones and operating systems, including all four major smart phone OSes in its supported list of formats (though sadly the author’s own Motorola Atrix HD is sadly absent from the support list.)
Does this all sound like a pipe dream? Well, it could be, if the product’s Kickstarter fails. With less than two weeks to go as of the time of writing this article, the product is approximately a third of the way funded.
Are you interested in seeing something like this come to fruition? Whether you’re a hardcore VR nut or just looking to see where the tech is heading, Cmoar’s VR goggles are definitely worth checking out.