VIVE Ultimate Tracker was developed to give XR users even more versatility and functionality.
Crédits photos : HTC VIVE
Every year, the Laval Virtual Awards ceremony rewards the best VR / AR projects of the year. In 2024, twelve prizes were given to highlight immersive companies and XR creators. Among the winning projects, there is VIVE Ultimate Tracker in the category “XR Devices & Interaction Products”, an XR accessory allowing full-body tracking during virtual reality experiences. Interview with Thomas Dexmier, Head of Sales and Marketing EMEA at HTC VIVE.
Can you introduce your company?
HTC VIVE was founded in 2015, releasing our first VR product in 2016. Since then, we have innovated across hardware and software, including XR accessories. Our mission has always been to create technology solutions that truly benefit humanity and unleash human imagination.
VIVE has products across B2C and B2B, as well as business units focused on Spatial Platforms (VIVERSE), Virtual Production (VIVE Mars CamTrack), Arts and Culture (VIVE Arts), and Private 5G networks (G REIGNS). We have extensive hardware and software for both B2B and B2C, and our XR headsets have features and accessories that allow for full face and body tracking, mixed reality, and so much more.
Our XR innovation is being used in almost every industry and vertical – from defence training to cultural location-based experiences. And in 2023, VIVE’s pioneering innovation saw a unique achievement, an out-of-this-world first, with the first fully functioning VR headset in microgravity, used by the International Space Station’s Commander, Andreas Mogensen, for mental and physical health support during his six-month mission.
We also strongly support open standards. Our VIVEPORT store is open to all devices who can access content via PCVR, our spatial collaboration platforms are device agnostic, and we are also a member of OpenXR.
Can you present the project that received a prize at the Laval Virtual Awards 2024 ?
Winner of the XR devices & Interaction Products award at Laval Virtual 2024, VIVE Ultimate Tracker is VIVE’s first-of-a-kind positional tracker for standalone VR headsets that takes interactivity, utility, and expressiveness in XR experiences to the next level. Following the highly popular VIVE Tracker 3.0, the VIVE Ultimate Tracker was developed to give XR users even more versatility and functionality. Whether it’s gaming, sports training, motion capture, or industrial use, VIVE Ultimate Tracker can do it all.
VIVE Ultimate Tracker is compact, versatile, and has new technology which essentially makes it “self-tracking”. VIVE Ultimate Tracker has full 6DoF inside-out positional tracking, using two wide-FOV cameras to track its own location in 3D spaces with precise accuracy. This keeps virtual and physical movements in sync and enables it to work perfectly with standalone headsets such as the VIVE XR Elite and our latest XR headset, VIVE Focus Vision without the need for external tracking solutions like base stations. It now also officially compatible with third-party PCVR headsets that support SteamVR, opening up tracking possibilities to even more XR users.
What was your motivation when applying for the Laval Virtual Awards?
Laval Virtual Awards are well known for recognizing those who want to keep improving XR technology and experiences, and ultimately make the world a better place.
At HTC VIVE, we’re continuously innovating and this event offers a great opportunity to show our latest XR solutions to a very passionate and engaged segment of the industry.
How did you experience your first participation in Europe’s biggest XR event?
HTC VIVE has had the pleasure of being part of Laval Virtual through the years, and each year we are truly inspired by the amount of XR innovation on show, the excitement from the community, and a shared vision for how immersive technology can make the world better.
What were the benefits of this award given by a jury of international experts?
We received very positive feedback from across the XR community. The recognition from an international expert jury is a fantastic way to celebrate the commitment from our team to our mission, which has always been to drive innovation through technology to unleash human imagination.
The Awards ceremony’s theme was “magic”. If you could wave your magic wand and create the VR solution of your dreams, what would it be?
Our dream is for everyone to be able to benefit from immersive technology, so an XR device which could automatically resize to fit anyone and everyone would be perfect.
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The success of the VIVE Ultimate Tracker could be yours! Would you also like to win an Award? The applications for the Laval Virtual Awards 2025 are open until January 25. To send your project, visit the online platform now.
