TrackIR3 Pro Head-Tracking System For Gamers

simfan writes "Ars has a review of the TrackIR3 Pro up that's worth a look. Using the TrackIR cursor control system originally designed to help the disabled, the company made a device that tracks your head movements in games. It turns out that this works really well in flight sims and other games where you can replace mouse control. There's some video of the performance as well."

Comments

keep your eyes on the screen..

[m05]

the problem is that when your head moves your eyes still have to point to the screen. that does not work. i tried the ur gear headset before. it did not work at all. it would work better on a wall.

Technology has multiple uses

[freedom_india]

According to the article In March 2001, NaturalPoint launched the TrackIR system as a control device for people with disabilities, but many in the flight simulation community saw a potential use in flight sim view control. How does it work? In simple terms, TrackIR is a webcam that transmits and detects infrared signals....

So, technology is always used where it's least expected. A technology for disabled people is used for flight simulation games. Typewriter was meant to help blind write letters. Now it has morphed into keyboard to write worms and viruses (virii if you want pure English).

So how many such different uses of technology have you come up with?

Re:Technology has multiple uses

[MarkPNeyer]

Actually, you're wrong, too. "Virii" would be the plural of "virius," which doesn't mean anything. The latin word 'virus' doesn't have a plural.

Re:Technology has multiple uses

[PatHMV]

Well, I was half right. "Viruses" is in fact good English. You are correct that "virii" is not good Latin, and I thank you for calling my attention to it. A quick Google search discovered the following comprehensive discussion on the subject:

What's the Plural of Virus?"

I've had the TrackIR for several months now.

[kwelch007]

I've had the earlier version of this for several months. I use it to play flight sims. It takes a little getting used to, but it really does work great!

Not just flight sims

[KrackHouse]

The guys from TrackIR pro contacted us during the development of Motorsport to offer support in making their product compatible. Bravo to TrackIR for supporting the open source community.

Re:Slight problem

[Rotkiv]

but if you look at the little gif/flash animation on the product page, it's not steering the jet, it's looking around the cockpit.

Similar, but more primitive

[YrWrstNtmr]

Nouse

Nose as Mouse
All you need is a webcam and your face. Tracks your nose for mouse movement.

Freelook (alternative)

[FrenZon]

Although it doesn't claim quite the specs and ease-of-use of the TrackIR, and only works with games supporting mouselook (LOMAC and IL2 being the important ones), I wrote Freelook for people with a standard webcam who feel like trying this form of headtracking out.

PS It's free.

Re:I could see myself using one of these.

[Minna Kirai]

Just have to get over the $140 price hurdle first.

If you're serious, then do it yourself. Notice how the TrackIR advertisements say "More Hertz than a Webcam"? That's because normal webcams, plus a little software, are competitive to their product.

For $20 you can buy a USB webcam, and then $10 for Cam2Pan, or $0 for Freelook. Now all you need is a sticker on your forehead...

Re:Profit?

[gadget junkie]

she won't need to. the system works even if you just apply one of the reflective stickers to the forehead, or better yet to the headset microphone, if she uses one. couple that with sphinx (http://www.speech.cs.cmu.edu/sphinx/), and bob's your uncle.