Shooting: Yuriko Ota
In early January, "Panasonic enters the Metabers Business", reported by news companies such as television and newspapers, and some of the major overseas media may have remembered the news.[See all images] What is the seriousness of Panasonic's “Metaverse entry”?This has been experienced in "MEGANE X", which is a media event for the world's largest technology exhibition "CES", which is held in Las Vegas in early January every year, VR glass (VR glass (VR).Goggles) were reported after exhibiting three new products at once in metabers, such as "Meghanex"."The response from the media in each country has been the highest in the hardware startup industry for more than 10 years.I answered the interview.We will deliver the heat of the startups that challenge metaverse hardware products and the experience report of the actual machine (the video report is in the second half).
First, "MEGANEX" is a CES in January 2020, two years ago, and a 100 % subsidiary SHIFTALL took over the 5K VR glasses that Panasonic exhibited for reference.Mr. Takuma Iwasa, the representative of SHIFTALL, said, "We are already working on metabers -related businesses and we can reach users rather than developing new businesses in the existing business department.Good. So, I decided to commercialize it from SHIFTALL. The development is continuing to develop the Panasonic team. "I was able to touch the actual machine within Shiftall.For mounting on the head, wear the glasses -like part of the vine as "put on the ear" rather than "put on the ear".The first thing I felt when I experienced it was the lightness when installed.The most selling VR headset "Oculus Quest 2" (estimated 8.1 million units in 2021) is about 250g (only the main unit).Compared to my usual VR usage environment, including straps, the sensitivity value feels even lighter.Megane X cannot be mounted on glasses because of its body shape.However, unlike the QUEST series, the point is that there is a "visual adjustment" function like binoculars.By moving the lever under the lens, you can adjust the frequency to some extent without glasses.Although the adjustment width seems to be reasonable as a prototype, eyesight 0.My myopic companion, who had about one, could be fully visible without glasses.In the actual machine, I experienced the social VR application "VR Chat" that runs on the VR platform SteamVR for PC, and the home screen of SteamVR.The video is quite high -definition and has no particle feeling (dot feeling).Thanks to that, the video is smooth.Also, because it is compatible with 10 -bit HDR with excellent expressiveness, the contrast is clearer than QUEST 2, and the outline of the object looks clearer.These beautiful video experiences are realized by high -definition organic EL panels that exceed 5k with both eyes, the biggest feature.1 eye, 1.3 inch 2.6K (2560 x 2560).Both eyes 5 5.2K.In addition, it supports 120Hz screen rewriting that can draw smoothly.The panel itself is supplied by Kopin in the United States.The background that can achieve "lightness" and "compactness" when compared to Quest 2 is because this VR goggles are so -called "PC VR" exclusive aircraft assuming connecting to PCs.When using it, the included interface conversion box (USB-C, DisplayPort + USB2).From 0), the mechanism used by wired to the Gaming PC compatible with SteamVR.Since the power supply is supplied to the conversion box separately from the AC, the fact that the battery is not installed is also a secret of lightness.Of course, at this stage, the parts that seem to be under development are everywhere.For example, if you move your gaze quickly, the video will be slightly jerky.Alternatively, if you look at the parts that spread the same color, such as the sky in the VR space, you can see the lines horizontally.Regarding the track of images to the movement of the head and the essential "visual size", the development is still boiled down.However, expectations as VR goggles are high.At the moment, controllers that are indispensable for VR content have not been announced, but information about whether to prepare a dedicated controller or use some controller will be announced later.