Metaverse and VR-focused companies were all the hype at the consumer electronic show CES 2023 held in Vegas this year.
In the spotlight were wearables that have traversed across senses such that you can not only immerse yourself through sight and sound alone but also touch and even smell your virtual surroundings.
US-based OVR Technology stole the show, introducing OVR ION 3, a digital scent wearable that can be optimised for VR headsets and other digital devices.
The wearable contains a cartridge with eight primary aromas that can be combined to create different scents, scheduled to be released later this year.
Another VR headset that turned heads is the HTC Vive XR Elite, which is set to take on the big players such as Meta Quest Pro and Apple’s much-awaited headset.
This headset has a dedicated depth sensor on the front, along with colour passthrough cameras that can eventually show mixed reality experiences, similar to the Quest Pro.
HTC already has its own line of wearable VR body trackers and wristbands, and when synced with the headset could open the potential for even more sensory experiences.
That feeling when you SMELL your stories for the first time. Get a whiff of @healiumXR now enabled with @OvrTechnology’s new scent wearable. Try it at Venetian #51365 #CES2023 #futureofstorytelling pic.twitter.com/5ABC8bRbpC— Sarah Hill @ #CES2023 (@SarahMidMO) January 6, 2023
Extended reality
OVR CEO and co-founder Aaron Wisniewski said: “We are entering an era in which extended reality will drive commerce, entertainment, education, social connection and wellbeing.
“The quality of these experiences will be measured by how immersive and emotionally engaging they are.
“Scent imbues them with an unmatched power.”
Glad you enjoyed it! https://t.co/DCwOAoGYmr— OVR Technology (@OvrTechnology) January 8, 2023
What is Metaverse?
Ever since Facebook (NASDAQ:META) Inc’s rebrand as Meta, the term metaverse has become the new buzzword in the tech space.
Trailblazing this new frontier is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is triggering a new wave of interest in the metaverse.
Zuckerberg said: “In the metaverse, you’ll be able to do almost anything you can imagine — get together with friends and family, work, learn, play, shop, create — as well as completely new experiences that don’t fit how we think about computers or phones today.
“In this future, you will be able to teleport instantly as a hologram to be at the office without a commute, at a concert with friends, or in your parent's living room to catch up. This will open up more opportunities no matter where you live.
“You’ll be able to spend more time on what matters to you, cut down time in traffic and reduce your carbon footprint,” he said.
Simply put, the end goal is an immersive virtual world where people live, work and socialise connected to VR devices in the comfort of their own homes.
Them: Where are you going?#VIVEXRElite: Just passing through.#mr #vr #xr #CES2023 @arvoreimmersive pic.twitter.com/LQlC1cnI1P— HTC VIVE (@htcvive) January 6, 2023