HTC reveals Vive Tracker at CES 2017

HTC has announced a new addition to their Vive VR headset. Get this - it lets you drag real-world objects into the virtual world with you!

HTC revealed the "Vive Tracker" in this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, which works in the same way its sister headset and controllers do. But how does it actually work?

As reported by Popular Mechanics, The Vive's "lighthouses" - small black boxes that you position at opposite corners of your VR space - throws constant waves of light in the non-visible spectrum, while the controller's and headset's sensors make use of these invisible light waves to calculate their exact position in the room.  The Vive Tracker, with a diameter of 4 inches (slightly larger than a hockey puck), has these same sensors. The computer that's running your game or simulation can track the physical object you attach the Tracker with.

The Vive Tracker has a screw attachment that lets you connect other peripherals, such as a baseball bat or a gun. Those peripherals can be attached to the tracker so they will be recognized by the position-tracking technology.

HTC also had a number of peripherals shown at CES 2017, as reported by Gizmodo. They include a wide array of toy guns, gloves, fire hoses, and cameras. Some were just like props while others were integrated with controllers, with additional buttons and joysticks built in to give players more control in their virtual world.

HTC also revealed a new accessory to the Vive called the Vive Deluxe Audio Strap, now with an integrated pair of headphones on the head strap itself similar to that of the Oculus Rift. The ear cups are fittingly adjustable and users will still get a 360-degree audio experience. It is definitely an entirely clean VR experience than using your own pair of headphones.

HTC said both accessories for the Vive VR headset would go for sale in the second quarter of 2017 but is yet to confirm pricing.