TrackIR 3 Released

Posted on Sat, 08 May 2004 00:51:55 GMT

New from eDimensional is the TrackIR 3, the latest version of their popular head tracker that works with FS2004 and many other games. TrackIR 3 allows you to change your view with a slight movement of your head. The new version offers higher resolution and increased performance and range. For full details, click on Read More.

eDimensional, creator of the critically acclaimed Voice Buddy and E-D glasses, is pleased to announce the release of the TrackIR 3 flight sim head tracker. The TrackIR 3™ is the perfect enhancement for gamers and simmers looking for a competitive edge and an enhanced virtual reality experience. Imagine controlling your field of view in flight simulators and many other types of games by simply looking around!

The TrackIR™ device is a high-performance head tracking system that enables hands free view control in popular games and simulators such as MS Flight Simulator 2004, Lock On: Modern Air Combat, IL2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles, and many more. A slight turn of the pilot's head causes the in-game view to pan in any direction, independent of mouse, keyboard, and joystick commands. Look out windows and around the cockpit as if you were in a real plane!

Two new models from which to choose

TrackIR 3™ - Standard
The TrackIR 3™ is the new entry level head tracking system, delivering maximum value. Based on a new image processor, TrackIR 3™ has 67% more resolution and improved optical performance that allows it to work in direct sunlight, delivering a truly immersive experience!

TrackIR 3 - Pro™
The TrackIR 3-Pro™ is the premium product, the best optical head tracking system available. Blazing along at a refresh rate of 120fps, TrackIR3-Pro™ is 50% faster than the TrackIR 3™ (80fps), and 4 times faster than a standard WebCam (30fps). Based on a new image processor, TrackIR 3-Pro™ has 67% more resolution and improved optical performance that allows it to work in direct sunlight, delivering a performance difference that will rock your view! TrackIR 3-Pro™ is the best optical head tracker that money can buy.

HIGHER RESOLUTION
Both TrackIR 3™ and TrackIR 3-Pro™ have a new resolution of 101,000 pixels, an increase of 67% over previous models. This means more precise and smoother motion, and steadier aiming than ever before. Draw and maintain a steady bead on your enemy, and keep them precisely within your sights.

INCREASED OPTICAL PERFORMANCE AND RANGE
Both TrackIR 3™ models allow the user a greater range of motion, letting them sit wherever they want. TrackIR 3™ and TrackIR 3-Pro™ are now sunlight resistant, performing reliably in direct sunlight thanks to new hardware components. You no longer have to dim the lights, or worry about reflections from windows or mirrors interfering with the tracking.

WHY UPGRADE?
If you want to have the best view control system available, then you must get a TrackIR 3™ or TrackIR 3-Pro™ today. All of the enhancements in TrackIR 3™ will result in an improved gaming experience, taking your immersion and competitive advantage to a new level. Both new TrackIR 3™ models have 67% more resolution than previous models, and the TrackIR 3-Pro™ is 20% faster than a TrackIR2™. Finally, the improved sunlight resistance allows you to use a TrackIR™ wherever you please.

MY GAME ONLY RUNS AT 60FPS, SO WHY DO I NEED 120FPS?
An increased TrackIR™ frame rate creates more sample points, delivering smoother and more precise motion independent of your game's refresh rate. It ensures that both the quickest and most subtle head movements are perfectly tracked. It allows the TrackIR™ to stay ahead of the game.

Get TrackIR with Voice Buddy and save $10

Also available is the TrackIR hat with built in reflective material. For the ultimate flight simulation experience, place the reflective dots on the boom of your Voice Buddy microphone! Add Voice Buddy at the special price of just $69.95 and you save $10. Just click on the banner below:

Here's how TrackIR works

TrackIR uses an infra-red(IR) camera to track your head movements. You reflect IR light back to the TrackIR, which sends instructions to your computer
to move your game view or mouse cursor.

2 Modes of operation :
The TrackIR ™ optical tracking system currently offers
two methods of putting your head in the game.

Mouse Emulation

The TrackIR ™ can be used in any game that you currently play with your mouse.

In this mode, the TrackIR ™ takes control of your cursor or "mouse look" game function. It acts like a second mouse, sharing control with whatever you have plugged into your mouse port. This is the default mode for TrackIR ™ usage.

Simply move your head in the direction you wish to look and your view changes accordingly. With the auto-panning feature, you can actually move 360 degrees in first person shooter games.

TrackIR Enhanced

The TrackIR ™ now interacts directly with the game, instead of emulating a mouse. The most important benefit of this is absolute positioning. No matter where you go, you will always return to the game's dead center.

With absolute positioning you can set up dead zones and non-linear motion scaling, because you have a reliable center point to work with. Plus, your mouse is now free to do the things you'd expect your hand to be doing, independent of your view.

In TrackIR enhanced mode, you'll fully lose yourself in the game.

As new games are released, TrackIR™’s software will be updated to work directly with them. The latest TrackIR Enhanced titles are listed here.

Infrared light is emitted from the LEDs and is reflected back to the imager by a corner cube reflector (3M safety material). This reflected light is imaged by a CMOS sensor and the video signal is passed to the preprocessing electronics. The video signal is thresholded against a reference level and all passing data is sent to the USB microcontroller to send to the PC for object tracking. In order to increase the signal to noise ratio an IR filter that passes only 800nm and above is placed between the imager lens and the outside world.

The TrackIR ™ can image any IR source; typically this is reflective material or an active IR source such as an LED. A user may track many different objects by placing reflective dots or LEDs on the object. The TrackIR ™ has a 32 degree field of view and anything being tracked must stay in that field of view.

TrackIR™ is a registered trademark of NaturalPoint Inc.

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TrackIR 3 Released

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