Panasonic exhibited the company's first glasses -type VR (virtual reality) glass at CES2020 last year.This year, the successor model has been exhibited at "CES 2021 Panasonic in Tokyo" held online.So what has evolved in VR glass in the past year?I interviewed the company's development team remotely (editorial department)
As we announced earlier, Panasonic exhibited glasses -type VR (virtual reality) glasses at the CES2020 venue currently being held.This model is said to have a high resolution of over 4K and is the first product that supports HDR (high dynamic range) for the first time in the world.With the Fifth -Generation Mobile Communication method (5G) commercial service, new services are expected to be developed, such as watching sports using VR glasses and simulated travel experiences.However, high -quality and high -quality VR glasses can have a highly immersive simulated experience, but the body is larger and fixed to the head with a headband....
Asakura Thank you for your cooperation today.I was very impressed with experiencing VR glass prototypes at last year's CES.Until now, similar products have been released from each company, but all were large and easy to use.However, Panasonic's VR glass is small and stylish.In addition, the image quality of the OLED (OLED) panel was also good.
This time, I was looking forward to that the VR glass has evolved further.Unfortunately, we haven't checked the actual product yet, but first of all, please tell us about the development concept and evolution of the new model.
Kozuka: I haven't heard from you.This is Kozuka, a general business development center XR, who was in charge of business strategy in VR glass.
In this glasses -type VR glass, I wanted to solve two issues.One is that we want to improve image quality and sound quality as an audio visual company, and the other is improving wearing.
First of all, in the image quality, we wanted to prevent the pixel structure of the display device invisible and evolve HDR playback.Of course, you have to change it from the panel, so it is only for VR only for the last time..The 3 -inch micro oled panel has been developed with kopin.
The model I showed last year was a three -axis sensor, but this time it has evolved to 6 axes.This will make the user's operability much better.However, for that, we had to put a head tracking camera on both sides of the lens and a microphone for echo/noise canceling in the bottom of the lens.
Furthermore, in terms of sound quality, there is an amplifier and speaker in the temple part (the vine of glasses), so as a result, it may be a bit more rugged than last year.
As Asakura product specifications, it is a pure display used by connecting with a player.
Kozuka Yes, that's right.In other companies' products, there are also standalone -type products with built -in player functions, but in that case the body will be larger.That's why we thought it would be better to separate VR glass and players.
5G appears, and high -performance chips are mounted on smartphones.Naturally, the VR playback function will be enhanced, so I decided to leave the player function to the smartphone.VR glasses are being developed in a way specialized in display and sensor functions.
At the time of Asakura playback, the smartphone is in charge of video processing, and the VR glass is specialized in the functions that show it properly.
Although it is meaningless to limit the player to a specific smartphone, it is based on the compatibility guarantee program proposed by Quarcom in May 2020.As a result, a 5G Android smartphone equipped with a Qualcomm SOC that will appear after this spring will be used regardless of the manufacturer.
Since USB Type-C is used as a connection terminal, it can be connected not only to smartphones but also to PCs.If it is connected to a PC, it also supports SteamVR and OpenVR.SteamVR has already released about 4000 titles, but all of them can be enjoyed.
What is the difference from last year in Asakura Hardware?
It is Kashiwagi from the Kashiwagi XR Development Office.I will explain the hardware.
This time, I changed the OLED panel.The resolution of the micro OLED panel was for the right eye last year and the horizontal 2048 x 2048 pixels for the left eye, but this year it has evolved to a horizontal 2560 x vertical 2560 pixels.
The aim is to increase the resolution and reproducibility in Asakura VR.
Kashiwagi: Of course, there is also the aim, but since the beginning, I wanted to do it with a horizontal 2560 x vertical 2560 pixels.
Last year's exhibition model has the same lens configuration as this time, but from that time, it was designed with a view of about 100 degrees.However, if you put an OLED panel with a horizontal 2048 × vertical 2048 pixels there, the blackness remained in the four corners, and the valid pixel was limited to about 77 degrees.On the other hand, this panel has a lot of pixels, so I was able to secure about 100 degrees.The pixel pitch does not change and the effective pixel is 1.This means that it has increased tripled.
Asakura: At last year's CES, you said that you wanted to increase the number of pixels in the panel, but that means that it was realized.What is the next big change?
Kazuka Kozuka mentioned earlier, but the sensor is from 3 to 6 axes.Last time, we could only detect the movement of the user's head, but this time we can respond to the front, left and right, and up and down movements by setting them to 6 axes.
When the detection performance of Asakura movement is improved.
The range of Kashiwagi detection is expanding.In particular, this time, it is largely possible to achieve a 6 -axis and an inside out -of -mounted -out type that does not require an external marker in a lightweight and compact design that can be worn for a long time.
It is a wonderful evolution that will improve Asakura operability.Was there any other user -conscious improvements?
Kashiwagi IPD (between pupil distance) and visual degree adjustment function are also important.This time, it is equipped with a hyperopia and myopia correction function, so that even bad eyes can be seen clearly without glasses.
Last year's CES pointed out that it cannot be used for people wearing glasses.Actually, it was possible to replace the visual adjustment adapter lens, but it was really difficult to use, so it included a stepless mechanical adjustment function.
Minus 1.Since the visual degree can be adjusted from 25 to plus 8, it may be possible to use it without glasses up to those who have about 0.01 eyesight.
The Asakura speaker was also built -in.
Kashiwagi: In the last model, the earphones were mainly considered, and the speakers were backing.This is because the earphones or speakers are better depending on the application.
You have to be able to talk to the people around you in how to use the exhibition demonstrations, simulations, and presentations.When it comes to earphones, speakers are good.On the other hand, earphones are more suitable for uses such as games, VR content, movies, etc., or remote meetings.
As our VR glass, it would be useless if we could not respond to both.When it comes to it, the speaker must be attached to the main unit.The earphones decided to connect the jack of the remote control box attached to the main unit.In the future, we are considering the development of MMCX connectors to the main unit to improve the sound.
I think Asakura HDR playback was supported by last year's model, but did the effect be upgraded this year?
Kashiwagi: That's right.The brightness of the OLED panel is also improved, so the expression power to display HDR is also higher.
Asakura: I was surprised that the model was small and light last year, but was there any evolution in that respect?
The weight around that is increasing because the temples can be folded so that they can be folded so that they can be folded so that they can be folded so that they can be easily carried.On the other hand, I devised the lens, and kept it almost the same weight as last year.My goal is to do my best to get 150g.
Asakura VR glass was very popular in last year's exhibition, but how was the reaction of the software creator and the provider of the application?
For Kozuka applications, most of the VR content currently running on the PC will work.I think that VR content for business use is almost all right for PCs.
For app playback, smartphones will be the center of both personal and business use, so we expect that the application will expand in that sense.From 2022 to 2023, I think that the world will be created so that you can enjoy VR just by connecting your smartphone and VR glass, and around 2025 you will be able to use VR glasses with standalone.
Asakura's latest application would be for business use, but what do you think will be the same as home use?
I would like you to use it for those who enjoy games on Kozuka PC and those who are already familiar with VR.The current VR head mounted display is large and heavy, so I think the compactness of this unit is great.Because the feeling of wearing is good, heavy users will be pleased.
Also, if it becomes a 5G smartphone, I think that the function of watching distribution content as VR will be normal.In that case, it is much better to connect VR glasses instead of 2D small displays of smartphones.
In fact, in China, young people watch TV broadcasting on smartphones, and if they want a large screen, they often connect VR glasses.In the future, the trends will increase worldwide, so I would like to position them as a product with excellent image quality and sound quality among them.
Asakura Audio Visual, if you enjoy a personal big screen, you have a consciousness of a projector, but from now on, VR glass may change to that.
Kozuka That possibility would be great.Moreover, you can enjoy an airplane or train with glasses -type VR glass, and if you use it as a PC monitor, you will not have to worry about peeping from people around you.Designers and others have requested that you want to use it.Of course, in that case, the image quality is good.
Asakura Hardware What do you think for a future prospect?
Kashiwagi: The current situation is struggling to pack parts and speakers in a small and lightweight housing.However, I want to improve the accuracy of the implementation.
I would also like to consider the development that can be used not only for VR but also for AR (extended reality) and MR (complex reality).There is a desire to build a world that is completely digital and does not need to distinguish between reality and virtual.
Asakura: In that case, you need 4K in terms of resolution.
We need a detailed scrutiny than Kashiwagi, but we don't think we need to increase the resolution so far.The resolution per human eye viewing angle is visual acuity 1.It is said that it is about 60 pixels in the case of 0.With the resolution of the horizontal 2560 x vertical 2560 pixels, the resolution is about 26 pixels, which is nearly half.As a real issue, I think that even if the display resolution is finer, it will not be much distinct.
If anything, the resolution on the content side, how to express HDR, and how to make apps may be more influential, and this area may be more extended.
Asakura I see, rather than simply increasing the panel resolution, I have to think about the relationship with the content.
By the way, this time, in addition to the two people, everyone involved in the development of VR glass is gathering.Finally, please tell us about the enthusiasm for the VR glass.
I'm Serizawa from the Serizawa XR Development Office Hard Development Division.This VR glass is a prototype, but we are aiming to release within one year.While designing high quality, it is necessary to improve the size and improve the feeling of wearing, and it is currently struggling.I would like to pursue how much quality I will hone as a Panasonic VR glass.
I'm Suzuki, who was in charge of Suzuki Soft Development.This time, I thought that the point was to make use of the small and lightweight, which was popular at last year's CES, and what to do and what users could experience.
There are already VR content in the world, and there are many content development environments.Our VR glass must enjoy those existing content.For that reason, it supported OpenVR on the PC and the smartphone compatible with Quarcom's compatibility authentication program.
In addition, we are considering the quality of the VR experience.In VR, when you touch the head tracking or controller, the reaction is slightly delayed can lead to a degradation of the experience.For that reason, I explored where the camera was attached, what angle to attach, and which was better for the controller method.In order to shorten the delay as much as possible, the processing flow and signal flow are devised.
In addition to that, in addition to that, I will continue to explore what kind of experience you can use with our VR glass, and I would like to include the necessary mechanisms and preparation for that.
Asakura: I have to show that the home appliance manufacturer makes it different, so that commitment is important.Please achieve the best operability.
Yamamoto and Mori and Mori have been in charge of negotiations with platform production companies and demonstrations to customer targets.This time, I was struggling because I couldn't do a demonstration because of the corona evil.Some people have not yet experienced it while speaking from here.
Among them, I was surprised that the main unit was small, but it was high quality, and I had great expectations.I want to respond to such a voice.
Mori: I am still working on VR, but I want to support you while thinking about how VR can be used.
Asakura Hardware creates the future.After all, the design is important, and the content creator will not be motivated by the large goggle type like the past.In that sense, I think the appearance of glasses -type VR glass is very important.
It is Kikuchi of the CVI Promotion Office, who was in charge of the business strategy with Kikuchi Kozuka.
When I talked to the customers who have experienced VR glass, I feel that it is approaching a perfect level at a very high level in quality.
As Suzuki mentioned earlier, I believe that it is important to work with experiences and services, depending on where and how to use it to solve the troubles of customers.This cannot be realized by us alone, so we will promote the environment while consulting with a partner.
Including them, I would like to aim for the ultimate hardware that enables comfortable experiences.
At the end of Asakura, please tell us the release timing and price of VR glass.
Kozuka: It's a difficult question (laughs).Initially, I was aiming for the first half of 2021, but it was delayed due to the influence of Corona, and I would like to release it in 2021.As for the price, the target is in the 100,000 yen range, but I would like to consider it in the future based on the production volume.
Even if you use Asakura VR, it doesn't make sense to use it.We look forward to the appearance of products that users will use spontaneously.
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