ZEISS VR ONE Expands Smart Phone Compatibility With A New Approach To Open Source Hardware

For its mobile virtual reality headset, the ZEISS VR ONE, ZEISS is expanding on its policy of offering an innovative open source business model by introducing a new basic tray CAD design tool. This means its users have more flexibility in how they use their virtual reality headset and what smartphones they can use it with. Plus, ZEISS is offering contributing developers a totally new and unique opportunity to participate in the success of the ZEISS VR ONE.

For the very first time, 3rd party design engineers and designers have the possibility to expand the range of smartphone trays for the ZEISS VR ONE together with ZEISS using this new open source approach. ZEISS provides for free all the necessary output data and a short user's manual from the ZEISS VR ONE website. If the respective developer agrees, and the trays pass validation tests, the trays are made available to the public from the ZEISS VR ONE website as free 3D print data which consumers and developers can print out with a 3D printer or 3D printing service.

Upon ZEISS validation, the developer of the new tray will be highlighted on the product page for the ZEISS VR ONE – an outstanding means of promotion for each particular developer. "This innovative idea opens the door for developers to be a part of the success of the ZEISS VR ONE and to present their services and their designs at the same time," explains Product Manager Franz Troppenhagen. “Market feedback to ZEISS indicates that people will really get behind this idea as companies like Vostok SDI and the developers Roger Roumen, Joachim Rügamer and Hans Martin Ritt have shown. They have already created suitable trays for the HTC M8, the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, and the SONY XPERIA Z3 while enjoying success making these available to the general public on the ZEISS VR ONE Tumblr page. Every new tray model a developer creates will be rewarded with a ZEISS VR ONE as a thank-you gift."

3D printing data

On the ZEISS VR ONE page, 3D print data is already available for trays which fit the Apple iPhone 6, LG G3, Google Nexus 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 through S6. You can download these and print them out on a home 3D printer or from a 3D printing service. "Particularly when it comes to system openness, our mobile VR headset is as smart as they get," says Troppenhagen. “The optical system of the ZEISS VR ONE is tailor made for virtual reality applications: highlights include a crystal clear image, no mechanical setting and it's easy to use, even for people who wear glasses.”

An added bonus of the flexible approach to ZEISS trays is that it ensures new smart phone models can be accommodated with new trays making the ZEISS VR ONE headset upgradeable to the latest smartphone technology. This makes upgrading it particularly easy and precise: the user puts the smartphone into the new suitable tray – that's it! The tray automatically ensures that the display is positioned in the optimum position and affords the best optical image quality without any manual alignment or readjustments.

Open source at all levels

ZEISS is offering a multi-faceted open source approach. It encompasses software (all VR apps from the Google Play and the Apple app stores can be used with the ZEISS VR ONE), hardware (Android, IOS and Microsoft devices can be used), the ZEISS Developer Kit (SDK) and now, the opportunity for developers to launch their own trays for the ZEISS VR ONE.

Flexible and future proof

With the ZEISS VR ONE, you have a virtual reality headset that is flexible and future proof because you just need to put the smartphone into the holder tray for it to function as a display while the app is running on the device. This means that the headset is compatible with all popular devices. For instance, when a new smartphone is released with a slightly higher resolution, all you need to do to display the higher resolution image is to exchange the tray. The headset is immediately ready to be used with the new device. Trays are already available, either as a free version for download to your 3D printer or you can buy manufactured trays online for 9.90 USD.

Here’s a list of currently available trays for the ZEISS VR ONE and ZEISS VR ONE GX

Manufactured Trays are currently available for the following smartphones:

• Samsung Galaxy S5
• Samsung Galaxy S6
• Apple iPhone 6
• Apple iPhone 6S

CAD Files for 3D Printed Trays are currently available for free download from ZEISS

• Samsung Galaxy S4
• Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• Google Nexus 5
• LG G3
• SONY XPERIA Z3
• HTC 8