HTC Vive Pre is HTC's newest evolution of its Vive virtual reality hardware, and it's being shown here in Las Vegas at CES 2016. A lighter headset, seen here, has new adjustments for facial comfort.
The padded facial "gaskets" can be changed, and the eye distance adjusted.
Inside, improved display technology makes everything seem more vivid and less murky.
Just like previous versions of Vive, sensors around the eyewear engage in positional tracking with room-mounted laser-equipped light boxes.
The Vive Pre is still tethered -- it has to connect to a computer with enough graphics horsepower to run VR.
New wireless controllers have full motion tracking, 4 hours of rechargeable battery life, and dual-action rear triggers.
The Vive's coolest new trick: a camera mounted on the headset that sees the room around you, and shows you everything when you get too close to a wall.
Trying out room-sensing via a guided "chaperone mode" that shows everything around me in glowing detail. I find my chair.
HTC Vive arrives in April, for an unspecified price. It comes with the headset, two controllers, and two room sensors.
Trying a virtual office experience via Job Simulator.
HTC Vive Pre is better than nearly any other VR experience, but will that mean it'll succeed? We don't yet know.
My living room's a lot more cluttered than this: that's Vive's biggest challenge.