FAQ
What is the Athanos system?
The Athanos system, which we’re calling Athanos VIEW, is the combination of a lightweight and ultra-responsive head tracking peripheral (HALO), a stereoscopic transmission device (SYNC) and the Athanos Bridge SDK.
We have a small batch of completed prototypes available that allow Athanos VIEW to work on commercially available televisions. SYNC turns a 120Hz OLED 2D television into a full HD/UHD 3D display. Our prototype also integrates hand tracking capabilities by using Tundra trackers.
Our tracking system is currently using Steam VR.
Athanos VIEW is not only impressive in its current nascent state, it also shows the potential of the system as it continues to become more streamlined and multi-faceted.
Are there other uses for Athanos VIEW?
Developers can also use HALO to integrate accurate head tracking into 2D-only games and applications, giving users the ability to peer beyond the edges of a 2D display. It can also be used as a hands-free user interface peripheral.
Hand tracking can be used in tandem with head tracking, allowing Athanos users to emote on par with users in virtual reality.
Using HALO with hand tracking, even without stereoscopic 3D, unlocks new potential ways of computer interaction that can be driven on a Microsoft Windows enabled platform. Our goal is to incorporate (or build) a platform-agnostic 6DOF tracking system. This will allow Athanos VIEW to work on any platform and on any display.
Will Athanos VIEW support glasses-free 3D displays?
Many companies are working on displays that will not require 3D glasses. Athanos VIEW is agnostic to the display being used; it currently uses active shutter glasses to support the stereoscopic effect. As glasses-free 3D displays become commercially available and affordable, our system will support them.
What game engines does Athanos support?
Athanos Bridge SDK currently supports Unity. Native Windows support and an Unreal integration is planned for the near future.
Can I use SYNC on it’s own?
SYNC can be used alone, without head tracking. A simple transmission protocol can be used to embed stereoscopic 3D onto supported displays, provided the computer platform outputs at a constant 120Hz. We are building a software solution that removes the fixed 120Hz rate image generation (currently Windows only), allowing for experiences to run at variable frame-rates.
What this all means: supported commercial 2D displays can be turned into 3D displays. As well, GPUs do not need special drivers. All of the stereoscopic work is embedded in the Athanos application and SYNC device.
What is the min-spec computer required?
A Windows 10 laptop that has an Intel i5 processor and NVidia GeForce GTX 1650 mobile chip.
We have a handful of demos working on min-spec ranging from AAA visuals to more casual gaming, and everything in between.
We’ve also built a 3D movie application that will allow you to watch 3D blockbusters on your SYNC-enabled display!
Unpack your acronyms, please.
VIEW: Virtual Immersive Exploration Window
HALO: Head Accurate Location and Orientation
Bridge SDK: Software Development Kit suite which includes integrations and native support
SYNC: No acronym here, it’s just a cool name for our stereoscopic display invention :)
I have an unanswered question! What do I do?
Talk to us! Shoot us a message via our contact form and we’ll be happy to answer any questions not covered here.