Dimenco demonstrates its 8K Simulated Reality development kit at CES

Veldhoven based Dimenco has used the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to introduce the hardware development kit to support its concept of Simulated Reality (SR) technology.  Consumers will have to be patient for at least another year, but developers can already use the kit in the second half of this year. The development kit includes a user interface and a platform for the creation of high-quality interactive experiences without any wearables.

Consisting of an 8K 32” glasses-free 3Dsuper high-resolution display that integrates eye tracking, sensors for mid-air hand gesture, spatial sound, a directional microphone with echo cancellation and embedded signal processing, Dimenco calls the development kit’s multi-sensory combination “the future of human-computer interaction”. It includes software for developers to create SR applications using three of the top game engines in the market today, including Unity, Unreal Engine, and Amazon Lumberyard.

Dimenco expects 2019 to see the growth of the SR ecosystem across multiple platforms, industries and applications. “Using Dimenco’s proprietary SR technology, makers of monitors, laptops, tablets, phones and other devices will be able to integrate SR into their product lines with the first consumer products expected in 2020. Maarten Tobias, CEO of Dimenco, said: “While the market for immersive content is growing around the world, wearable headsets, glasses and controllers needed for virtual and augmented reality don’t provide the optimal and most natural experience, which is hindering growth and adoption. We are dedicated to creating the interactive platform of the future, our vision is a simulated reality. Realism, social interactivity, immersion and AI can all be achieved through SR experiences, and we are enabling developers to start creating for SR now with our devkit.”

Dimenco has partnered with Ultrahaptics, whose technology uses ultrasound to create rich, three-dimensional shapes and textures that can be felt, bringing haptic feedback to its 3D display technology. “Ultrahaptics’ technology, tools and expertise add amazing haptics to virtual objects, develop immersive holographic interfaces, and augment gesture control with natural tactile feedback unlocking the true potential of touch.”

‘Mid-air haptics’ will revolutionize how we interact, Dimenco says, “creating a safer, cleaner and more magical world.” The technology is being used in multiple applications, from automotive controls to location-based entertainment including VR, AR and now SR. The partnership has produced wearable-free, 3D graphics that users can interact with and feel with their bare hands.

Steve Cliffe, CEO of Ultrahaptics: “Adding the sense of touch to digital content makes it come to life. Experiences are much more immersive and engaging. We are, therefore, very excited to partner with Dimenco on the Simulated Reality developer kit to create the most natural interactive platform from which developers can create immersive and magical content.”

Based in the Netherlands, Dimenco is a subsidiary of Kangdexin Composite Material Group (KDX), China with origins in Royal Philips Electronics.