Details: The helmet was accompanied by a wireless, baseless controller which looks like a bigger, sturdier version of a game-console-controller. Actually, it seems the idea is to put the complete console-electronics into this unit. The press-release describes “Global Pl@yer” as an all-in-one wireless gaming system for ‘home-entertainment’, not as a PC-add-on.
Siemens Global Pl@yer Specs and Info…
Headset: Siemens Global Pl@yer
Manufacturer: Siemens AG
Announced Date: March 2000
Release Date: Unknown
Launch Price: Unknown
Type: VR Headset (PC Powered)
Display: Unknown
CPU: N/A
GPU: N/A
Battery: N/A
Diagonal Field of View(FOV): 40°
Refresh Rate: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Tracking: 3 DoF Non-positional (Gyroscope Based)
Our Thoughts: Siemens are not the first name that comes to mind when you think about virtual reality, but they know a lot more than you might think. While the marketing team was quick to jump on the VR bandwagon it is not a virtual reality headset as such, it’s more a wireless stereoscopic gaming system. Yep! You heard that right, this was going to be an HMD console!
While it might look like it only has one race game to come with it the wireless motion controller had lots of buttons and stick for all types of videogames. But Sony had already gone its foot in the door with the PlayStation and sadly this scared Siemens off from ever producing it. As a strange end to an otherwise good looking device, most of the design aspects and tracking software of this headset ended up being inside a cordless vacuum cleaner!
Sources used…
[http://www.stereo3d.com/siemensvr.htm]
[http://3d-vr.ru/catalog/shlemy_virtualnoy_realnosti_dlya_pk_i_konsoley/siemens_global_pl_yer/]