Any news from CastAR?

Talk about Head Mounted Displays (HMDs), augmented reality, wearable computing, controller hardware, haptic feedback, motion tracking, and related topics here!
Post Reply
User avatar
3dpmaster
Cross Eyed!
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:05 pm

Any news from CastAR?

Post by 3dpmaster »

I couldn't wait to post it. The Estimated delivery of Castar = September 2014.
Until now, 4 September, nothing received in my mailbox from Tecnical Illusions link: http://technicalillusions.com/. (I've preordered Castar in May 2014).
Any thougths?
:(
Full immersive research:

HMD:
SONY HMZ-T1
FOV: 40° diagonal

HMD project:
FOV: >180°

Link: http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=14332
User avatar
Dilip
Certif-Eyed!
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:23 am
Location: Ahmedabad//INDIA

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by Dilip »

They are very very lazy in responding to anything.
May be they feel '$ecresive' due to pressure of hiding trade secret.

What ever reason keep silent for long, and your investors start doubting on your efficiency/intentiones

Ofcourse no one should ask for trade secrates, what's wrong in updating staus. Let's hope they consider other side of coin and open up least a bit.
budda
Sharp Eyed Eagle!
Posts: 388
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 9:13 pm

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by budda »

Hi,

There has been an update on the Castar kickstarter site.

Update 29 - September 5 , 2014.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/te ... stem/posts


Castar have to be careful what they disclose.

They have an incredible opportunity to carve a massive space in the VR/AR world, and have to be careful they do not prejudice their intellectual property claims with premature disclosures to the public.

If fact, I am surprised as to why any such company has to say anything until the product is ready to ship.

Feeding the chooks does not pay the bills.

Thanks.
User avatar
Dilip
Certif-Eyed!
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:23 am
Location: Ahmedabad//INDIA

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by Dilip »

Co-incident just before posting that i did not seen a day before's KS Update 29 - September 5 , 2014. (As there wasn't any from long time ie.last July12)

Update is only thing i said should be there...
updating on progress of work is hardly any kind of disclosure.

Those companies which are newly formed and selecting kick starter as their mode of initial funding
are indeed answerable to its investors who showed faith in them, at least to extent of informing what is really going on.

See example of VrAse Kick-stater the bad PR you can earn as newbie when you totally neglect people who invested with faith.
Don't disclose anything to them just tell them and that should be genuine info not rosy picture.(about VrAse and not Cast AR to be clear)

What if Chooks are the ones which made you able to put first step
and they didn't demand anything but update... ;) That indeed make difference in your future capability to pay bills.

That said ...Indeed there should be at-least a single member in team who can handle pr side of KS.
Especially when you get multiple times funded.
budda
Sharp Eyed Eagle!
Posts: 388
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 9:13 pm

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by budda »

Hi,

I suppose public relations is important, especially for the next time people are asked for help, such as developers making software applications or early adopters spreading the message.

Good public relations does make good financial sense too, as you get other people to do your work for you, mostly for free.

However, it must be expected that kickstarter campaigns and the like are very risky, otherwise you would be better off with bankers, venture capitalists, friends, family, fools and loan sharks.

Kickstarter backers are not investors, they are more like socialists.

If you get your product then good, but you are owed nothing more than a warm inner glow for helping plant a seed for which a mighty tree may grow.

And don't expect that when that tree grows that you will be entitled to any of the fruit. :mrgreen:

Thanks.
User avatar
Dilip
Certif-Eyed!
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:23 am
Location: Ahmedabad//INDIA

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by Dilip »

Hi,

Didn't we see rage of people who backed Oculus Rift in 'KS' while it has been acquired by FACEBOOK, even though
OCULUS did delivered 'DK1' which was all that promised and nothing more.

There was also feeling of betrayal expressed by many.

Do you still think all backers are 'holy socialists'. I don't think anyone.

That said really there may be few 1/5 dollar Donners, who really won't ask for any thing, rest earth is not full of saints it never was
and will never be.

So IMHO though kick-starter pledgers are not 'Investors' they sure behave like one at a time.
That's reason we see options of 'backing off from pledge' or 'ask for refund' in kick-starter else tell me why on earth Kickstarter provide such facility. I never got refund of any money i have ever donated anywhere. (including places of my belief)
its indeed 'Crowd Funding' and not 'Crowd Donations'. :)

Thank you very much. ;)
User avatar
3dpmaster
Cross Eyed!
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:05 pm

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by 3dpmaster »

Thanks for your reactions

:shutter
Seeing at the pictures of their first product, they were able to make a black sharp edged version of CastAR with two small projector cubes on the glasses like the glasses here above "seeing". However on FB there is an other version with an enbedded controller on the right arm of the hmd. Finally, the last one is a smooth shaped hmd with pilot glasses-like clip-ons for sale on the main website.

They change their design over and over again. I think, the main problem is not their technical claim but the look of their standard product. A short time ago, they would be pleased to present their optimized cable with a thickness of about 0.1 inch instead of another thicker cable.
We are also able to choose between two different Castwand controllers for now: the first one is a wizard stick kind of controller and the second one is a more joystick or spacemouse-like controller.

I cannot follow anymore, it seems that the product has yet to be realized.

I almost forgot to tell this: you still can pre-order CastAR and the estimated deadline is "unlimited".
:?

Thanks
Full immersive research:

HMD:
SONY HMZ-T1
FOV: 40° diagonal

HMD project:
FOV: >180°

Link: http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=14332
User avatar
Dilip
Certif-Eyed!
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:23 am
Location: Ahmedabad//INDIA

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by Dilip »

@3dpmaster
-First product is their working proof of concept prototype.
-Second one of FB is what they came as Update1 which they walk with at various stage shows to make people know the capablity of device.
-The last one Smooth shaped hmd with pilot glasses like clip-ons for sale on the main website is their 'Dream Conceived Device they are targeting as final Product'

They change their design over and over again due to fact that they are refining the product till their goal of perfection.

How i came to know? answer is going through various web articles over a period of time since i am lurking around this project...


Only thing in my mind as 'FISHY'is their 'VR CLIP ONs' which is only thing i found my self deeply interested in to and is also only thing they did not demonstrated anywhere
apart from just mentioning their existence and showing VR Clip-ons in pictures.

I also can not understand why they have made entry point for VR meaninglessly expensive at $430 ( entry package $345+ VR clip on $85)
https://technical-illusions.myshopify.com/

The combine price of Surface+Wand+Basic Glass is $345 now if some one want to experience VR only and want nothing sort of AR
Why its not $345(Combo Price)-$35(Surface)-$65(Magic Wand)=$245 (for Glass only Price) option.

Their VR Clip on is also Apparently OVER PRICED at $85
considering its only refractive surface made of plastic. Practically its housing no electronics or expensive parts its just curved piece of plastic.

While its really hard to Project near eye clear image of 90 Degree FoV without magnifiers (its not there in basic glass). So far i think due to higher brightness and small size at short throw distance without any kind of diffuser and magnification for focus. There can also be image banding or distorion due to projecting it on internal concave surface of 'clip-on's. As Clip-ONs not straight (by looking at pictures they posted) can be main issue why they are not showing any working prototype of this VR CLIPons Any where they are showing their engineering prototypes.

But its impossible to comment on till they show any prototype of VR CLIPons i am still little excited about.


I have asked them may times my simple questions by mail to contact@technicalillusions.com ( i think its dead end where no one reads anything reaching there)
but really it appears more or less same as throwing bottle in pacific ocen with 'SoS' message and then wait for reply which will never come. :lol: :lol: :lol:

They have every right to ignore me as i am not their KS Backer(luky ;) ).
My friend your questions they are bound to answer, if they are not in my opinion they are 'non-professional'.

Ask them for detail you seek.
If they don't answer then only back-off and be loud when express them your dislike :mrgreen:
User avatar
3dpmaster
Cross Eyed!
Posts: 116
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:05 pm

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by 3dpmaster »

Subject: CastAR?

Dilip wrote: But its impossible to comment on till they show any prototype of VR CLIPons i am still little excited about. As Clip-ONs not straight (by looking at pictures they posted) can be main issue why they are not showing any working prototype of this VR CLIPons Any where they are showing their engineering prototypes
True, I think they're about to push the limit further on those prisms. In fact the CLIPons are patent pending prisms, used in several professional hmd's like Emaging and Kaiser. but in those hmd's the fov does not go over 50-60 deg fov, so as mentioned, the 90 deg fov is risky.
If there is a projecting diffuser on the top of the CLIPon and if the diffuser is big enough, say 1 inch, no problem to look left or right, there will be no vignette. But if the magnified lightpoint is too small (like the projector lens), there is a BIG problem. I did several tests with simple hollow mirrors. I know, if mirrors or internal reflection prisms are not perfectly aligned, the image will be partial or say totally gone if you turn your eyes left or right.
Dilip wrote: But really it appears more or less same as throwing bottle in pacific ocen with 'SoS' message and then wait for reply which will never come. :lol: :lol: :lol: "
Indeed, maybe people should send several message bottles packed in a delivery box (registered!) :)
Full immersive research:

HMD:
SONY HMZ-T1
FOV: 40° diagonal

HMD project:
FOV: >180°

Link: http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=14332
User avatar
Dilip
Certif-Eyed!
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:23 am
Location: Ahmedabad//INDIA

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by Dilip »

:D will go on registered path to see.......
May some reply will come.

it would be great to see Virtual reality materialized on this.
budda
Sharp Eyed Eagle!
Posts: 388
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 9:13 pm

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by budda »

Hi,

Castar are going great.

Here's an article from Venture Beat.

http://venturebeat.com/2014/10/07/techn ... interview/


Thanks.
User avatar
Dilip
Certif-Eyed!
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:23 am
Location: Ahmedabad//INDIA

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by Dilip »

Noting much to excite till they public VR Clip Ons.
Which are little away :roll:
budda
Sharp Eyed Eagle!
Posts: 388
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 9:13 pm

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by budda »

Hi,

Some news about castar from engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/17/cast ... d-reality/


Thanks.
f15sim
One Eyed Hopeful
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:58 am

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by f15sim »

FYI, my dev glasses will be here tomorrow.

I came here because I heard that Vireio v2 supported castAR. How is that possible considering there's no way they have hardware to test it with?

tnx!

g.
User avatar
Dilip
Certif-Eyed!
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:23 am
Location: Ahmedabad//INDIA

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by Dilip »

f15sim wrote:FYI, my dev glasses will be here tomorrow.

I came here because I heard that Vireio v2 supported castAR. How is that possible considering there's no way they have hardware to test it with?

tnx!

g.
Your lucky :)

1) Are you developer? or Enthusiast invested in early bird?
2) What are you going them to use for?
3) Don't you think VR CLip On would be more cool thing to have?
4) How is projection in dim lit and full lit environment?
5) Are you crazy about black rr material?

Love to see a nice review link...in case you do not feel like posting it here... ;)
f15sim
One Eyed Hopeful
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:58 am

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by f15sim »

Dilip wrote:
Your lucky :) [*you're :D :D]

1) Are you developer? or Enthusiast invested in early bird?
2) What are you going them to use for?
3) Don't you think VR CLip On would be more cool thing to have?
4) How is projection in dim lit and full lit environment?
5) Are you crazy about black rr material?

Love to see a nice review link...in case you do not feel like posting it here... ;)
1. Developer
2. Flight simulation
3. I'll get one eventually. The VR clip on isn't something that interests me until they get the mixed mode nature of it nailed down. (they may have, I don't know) For true VR, the DK2 does the job.
4. No idea. I don't have it yet.
5. On the face of it, I think black RR material is basically four pounds of stupid packed into a 2 pound box. If someone wants to send me a sample of the stuff, I'll certainly look at it. Being proven wrong hasn't injured me yet. :) (If it did, I'd look like someone ran me down with a cheese grater.. :D )

I'll be doing a video or two once I've had a chance to see how they work at get them set up.
My videos are here: http://www.youtube.com/f15sim

tnx.

g.
User avatar
Dilip
Certif-Eyed!
Posts: 692
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:23 am
Location: Ahmedabad//INDIA

Re: Any news from CastAR?

Post by Dilip »

f15sim wrote:I'll be doing a video or two once I've had a chance to see how they work at get them set up.
Thanks
I be waiting :D
Post Reply

Return to “General VR/AR Discussion”