Called Project Alloy, the headset will feature front-facing 3D camera technology known as RealSense which will allow the user to see physical objects nearby while in use. It will also support the use of hand gestures as information input, as opposed to physical controllers.
The headset also boasts the feature of not needing to be connected to a computer in order to operate. This could give it an advantage over the Oculus Rift, which requires a connection.
Project Alloy may be Intel’s shot at regaining some market dominance it once held. Once a spearheading company in computer technology, the company’s profits gradually dropped once other companies caught up to it technologically. In this year’s second quarter the company’s profits fell 51%, and it announced a staff layoff of 12,000 by the second half of 2017.
With VR a growing trend projected to explode into the market soon, Project Alloy’s features could set it apart from its competition.