HTC has released two new trackers for the Vive. The Vive Tracker 3.0 is a successor to the existing tracker, but there will also be a Facial tracker for tracking facial movements.
The Facial Tracker is a new accessory for the Vive headset. It will hang at the bottom of the glasses and is aimed at the face. In this way, the tracker can track facial expressions and mouth movements. HTC says it’s possible to track 38 different facial movements around a user’s lips, jaw, teeth, tongue, cheeks and chin. In this way it is possible, for example, to have someone speak a digital avatar realistically.
The tracker has a tracking rate of 60Hz and a latency of ‘under 10 milliseconds’, although HTC does not specify exactly how much it is. The device uses two cameras and an infrared sensor to record images in the dark, and connects to the goggles with a USB-C connector. HTC has released a separate SDK for the device.
HTC has also released a new Vive Tracker. The Tracker 3.0 is a third smaller and 15 percent lighter than its predecessor, and has a longer battery life. The battery should last 75 percent longer than the previous model. The new tracker is compatible with all steamVR headsets and has a field of view of 240 degrees. The Facial Tracker and the new Tracker 3.0 both cost 139 euros.