NVIDIA Debuts Latest Light Field VR Headset Prototype at VRLA

In August last year, we reported that NVIDIA, in partnership with Stanford University, was developing its own VR headset that intended to push beyond existing stereoscopic technology. Now, at the recent Virtual Reality LA (VRLA) expo, NVIDIA has demonstrated its most recent prototype, dubbed Light Field VR.

A user goes eyes-on with our Light Field Display prototype at @vrlosangeles. #VRLA pic.twitter.com/fbt4LWbw37

— NVIDIA GeForce (@NVIDIAGeForce) January 24, 2016

Light Field, rather than simply displaying a unique image for each eye (stereoscopic), also simulates depth of field by using two translucent LCD layered displays, separated by a spacer, and backlit. Its method of three-dimensional simulation is akin to a hologram. The prototype debuted at VRLA ran through a Maxwell GPU-powered desktop PC, using a CUDA parallel programming language, according to Fudzilla.

The demonstration, though, seems to be little more than a tease, for now. NVIDIA spokesperson Bryan Del Rizzo told PC World, “What we showed at VRLA is a research prototype built in collaboration with Stanford University to explore how future Light Field technologies can improve the VR experience.”

NVIDIA regularly conducts research on future technologies to help the industry find solutions to tough visual computing challenges. The prototype was first shown at Siggraph 2015, and based on interest from the industry, we showed it again at VRLA,” Del Rizzo said, adding, “We aren’t disclosing any additional information at this time.”