So much of the VR conversation is dominated by Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and HTC. But there’s plenty of little guys, too! Take a look at our list of VR hardware and software coming from lesser-known companies and start ups on the cutting edge.
Hardware
- ControlVR, a replacement keyboard that uses hand motions
- Cyberith, a VR controller that lets you run, jump, rotate, and crouch
- Fove’s eye-tracking VR project, a headset in development since 2015
- Leap Motion, a motion control for VR
- Nod Labs, a controller and tracking device for VR
- Pebbles Interfaces, a hand-tracking technologies in development
- Samsung’s Gear VR, a headset competing with Vive and Oculus
- Sixense, a wireless, motion-tracking controller from a Kickstarter campaign
- Sony’s Project Morpheus, a VR system that can connect to the PS4 VR Platform
- StarVR, a new headset with an ultra-wide field of view
- Sulon Technologies, a device combining both VR and AR
- Tactical Haptics’ Reactive Grip Motion Controller, an ultra-sensitive VR controllers
- Valve Controllers, a VR-compatible controller (for use with HTC Vive)
- Virtuix Omni, a VR-compatible treadmill (for use with Oculus)
- virZOOM, a device that turns a stationary bike into VR controller
- Visbox, a whole-room system meant to act as a VR “cave”
Software
- AltspaceVR, a network allowing shows, concerts, movies to be experienced in VR with other people online
- Deepstream VR, a program using VR games for rehabilitation and treating pain
- Discovr, a historical VR experience for exploring ancient worlds in VR
- Drashvr, a company that produces educational VR apps
- EmergentVR, a hub of user-generated VR content
- Felix & Paul Studios, a studio developing VR content for Hollywood
- GameWorks VR, a NVIDIA VR development platform
- High Fidelity, another open-sourced software for deploying VR spaces
- Hover.to, an app that lets you create 3D models from your smartphone
- Inreal Technologies, a VR tool for architects
- insiteVR, a company that makes designer tools within VR
- IrisVR, a company that creates 3D modeling tools within VR
- Jaunt VR, a professional camera system for capturing VR experiences
- Kolor, a tool for creating 3D words from 2D images and videos
- Littlstar, a network that aggregates virtual reality conten
- Livelike VR, VR production focused on live sports content
- Matterport, an app for reconstructing real world spaces in VR
- MindMaze, a company that is developing VR experiences for stroke recovery
- NextVR — captures and delivers live virtual reality experiences (concerts, movies, sports) on demand
- OSVR, an open-sourced VR software platform
- Otoy, a pipeline for creating, rendering, and streaming 3D environments.
- Panorics, an app using immersive 360-degree video technology and products
- Psious , a VR experience that uses virtual environments to treat anxiety disorder
- SDK Lab, a company creating VR experiences for employee training (mining, drilling, etc.)
- spaceVR, a flight simulation using VR
- The VR Company, a studio producing VR experiences
- Unity, a VR development platform with extensive support
- Unreal Engine, a game development platform with VR support
- VideoStitch, video stitching software to create live VR content
- Visionary VR , a technology and content development studio
- Vivid Vision, a game created to correct amblyopia (lazy eye) as well as strabismus (crossed eye)
- Vrideo, a Youtube-like network for VR experiences
- VRse, a company producing VR content for filmmaking
- Wear VR, a content platform and app store for VR experiences
- Woofbert, an educational VR experience for art
- WorldViz’s Vizard, a VR toolkit
- Zspace, an VR experience for STEM education
And that’s only the start! We’re only a few years into the development of VR. Screen resolution is getting better, devices are getting smaller — Who knows what the future will hold? Perhaps VR will even fill needs in our future lives which we can’t even conceive of right now. If you haven’t tried it yet, you ought to — it will only become more and more ubiquitous as time rolls on.
Want more news, info, and insight into the world of 3D? Read this post and more like it on iMeshup’s blog.
