AMD-powered 'spatially aware' VR/AR headset revealed
The Sulon Q boasts "console-quality" graphics and is the tether free; get more details here.
AMD is getting into the VR game. The company today announced a partnership with Sulon Technologies for a "spatially award" head-mounted display that aims to blend virtual reality and augmented reality. The headset is called Sulon Q, and you can watch an overview video for the device in the video below. AMD is calling it the "first and only all-in-one, tether-free, 'wear and play' spatially aware headset for VR and AR."
It sounds like the Sulon Q is trying to achieve something like Microsoft's HoloLens.
"When you experience augmented reality the Sulon way, your physical world is not replaced, its enhanced," reads a line from its description. "Everywhere you look your full field of view is the physical world you know, seamlessly augmented with new realities. It s the best of both worlds, literally."
Also like HoloLens, the Sulon Q will offer a "completely untethered experience." All of the computing is done inside the headset, meaning you will be free to walk around, with the physical space around you morphed into a "dynamic augmented environment," Sulon said on the device's website.
In a since-removed statement on the Sulon Q website, Sulon Technologies CEO Dhan Balachand said the device will boast "console-quality graphics" as well as "powerful processing."
Specifically, it uses the AMD FX-8800P processor with Radeon R7 graphics that leverage AMD's Graphics Core Next architecture.
"The full performance of 4 compute cores and 8 GPU cores are unlocked through a revolutionary Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), enabling the cores to share memory to work together for dramatic performance and efficiency," Balachand said. "The result is a solution that is optimized for modern workloads and media formats, capable of driving the latest graphics APIs including DirectX 12 and Vulkan, and able to render stunning video game console-quality visuals on a beautiful 2560x1440 OLED display."
The Sulon Q headset also makes use of AMD's LiquidVR technology to afford "smooth and responsive VR and AR experiences." Additionally, it uses the AstoundSound technology to let users hear sounds "within a complete spherical soundscape." The device has a 3.5mm audio jack and custom earbuds. For voice communication, there are dual noise-cancelling microphones.
Sulon is now putting the "finishing touches" on the Sulon Q headset, with the device scheduled to arrive "late spring." A price was not announced.
Balanchand's statement referenced a Game Developers Conference event, so it's possible we'll learn more about the device later this week. The show runs all week in San Francisco and VR stands to be a big trend.
What do you make of the Sulon Q? Let us know in the comments below!