Finally a "VR device" that works!

I have been interested in years ago to equipment, allowed the head movement chart of the 3D environment, because such games with "virtual cockpit" has been around for a long time (for example, MechWarrior 2). The first devices were then also real "VR-helmets" with built Stereomonitörchen who had been directly in the eyes. This unit ground by gravity switches the position in space in 3 axes and put the result on said micro monitors are. But they never won the day because they were difficult, error-prone, inaccurate and not ergonomic, not to mention the crappy image quality of the display and not recently the high price. All in all no real alternative except perhaps for experimental earner who buy everything so eh New.

After a few years of flight simulation abstinence I am now returned by FSX and Black Shark and notice "must" now detours that a device has been around for years, which for just 150 Euros all that can do what the former equipment promised in vain - and even better!

The Track IR is the size of a matchbox and is thanks to its clever designed feet on each monitor really good grip. He is out with its infrared transmitters provided with two LEDs of different colors by a quick overview of the operating status enable (Game profile loaded or not, function that pauses, no reception, ...)

The Softwareinstallion is a no brainer, the software works (for me under XP) without any problems. The only subjective disadvantage are the three hot keys (by default F8, F9 and F12), which requires the device, and the corresponding applications in course "missing", but this can remap fortunately. You can actually be programmed so that they meet in addition to their "Track-IR function" their normal functions, but who wants that when you extend the flaps each track IR on and off? Oh, the hot keys are for centering, for a pause mode and for a "precision mode" (slower head movements) required.

The Track IR works as follows: The device is placed on the screen, from which it illuminated the square in front of the monitor with an invisible infrared light. The player wears a cap or the like, to which he has clamped a supplied frame with three small reflectors. These reflect the light back to the Track IR, which is calculated from the arrangement of the three reflexes the exact location of the players head. This has over the prior art several advantages:

1. It is fast. In the game, the roving See works in real time, I think I have read anything of more than 100 FPS in the instructions.

2. It is precisely. Suffice smallest head movements to gain means (save in the software and set for each game as a profile) to allow movement of the "virtual head". Who sets his system properly, can hereby achieve that head movement, so far that you just with the (rotated in the opposite direction) Eye sees the monitor can rotate the virtual head by up to 180 degrees. In this way you can actually complete look in the cockpit, without taking his eyes from the monitor. And the whole thing is actually quite intuitive. The control loop "look-head movement view" works without any problems - I was surprised.

3. There is no wear. Due to the optical operation have to worry about no-calibration. Although it happened in the game before that after a more violent turn of the head, the system is confused and you look at once his seat, but pressure on the centering key ranges at the same time looking straight ahead to restore orderly conditions. Only heat sources such as a placed within sight of the appliance desk lamp can mess up the system before. So if problems with completely confused "head movement" has, should times call up the software and check the "Tracking" screen, which will then receive for three green lights than reflexes. (Happened to me once.)

4. It has more movement options. The old device described above could prove just the three axes of rotation (frontal, lateral and vertical axis), the latter even inaccurate. Track IR may also use the move the head forward / back / / see top right down and left. This, in conjunction with corresponding simulations (eg FSX and Black Shark) great effects, such as a placement in order to detect the landing approach the runway better over the hood away to a to-side tilt when something you see at the bottom wants is sometimes hidden back behind the A-pillar of the cockpit, or just an ounce of prevention in order to read the display better. For someone who is so far only the hat switch on the joystick knew a hell of feeling. One would never fly again after a few minutes without!

So much for the function. Let's just say that the device for a good month intensive testing to date works properly with me and my expectations completely. Occasional re-centering is necessary though as I said, but not disturbing. Only when one turns around with the mouse in the cockpit, the permanent virtual head movement can disrupt something, so I have now laid the pause button on an extra mouse button. For normal use in the cockpit but this device has become as indispensable as joystick / control horn and foot pedals.

A few more words about the delivery: In the Amazon package the device itself, software and instructions as well as the clamping frame are included with the reflectors, but not the TrackHat (which is actually a baseball cap with sewn reflectors) - so no need even for a corresponding headgear care - and not the track clip, which can be clamped to a headset and is provided with its own LEDs. However, not so far, unfortunately at Amazon - the latter you get for about 40 euros individually.