The new Vertex camera unveiled at Siggraph 2017

In response to customer demand, Vertex boasts a smaller and more flexible design and wide angle field of view, allowing it to capture significant volumes in very tight spaces. As a result the camera can be used across a wide range of applications, from the automotive and life science industries to tracking in virtual reality environments.

What’s more with an industry-leading 1.3MP camera, petite design and two-metre flexible cable, Vertex harnesses these features to perform inconspicuously in virtual spaces. Its unobtrusive design and infra-red strobes mean that subjects are often not aware of the camera and continue to behave naturally, which is of huge benefit to those studying biomechanics and organisations analysing the ergonomics of driver and passenger vehicle safety.

Typically it can be difficult to position standard-size cameras in VR rooms with floor-to-ceiling projected imagery, often known as a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE). With a smaller and more easily mountable design, Vertex thrives in constricted VR environments - allowing customers to effectively position the cameras in corners without casting shadows onto the projections.

With virtual reality becoming ever-present and space at a premium, Vertex helps customers to install capture volumes in small spaces of up to 3x3m. By utilising the camera’s wide field of view, users can track from wall-to-wall while the cameras are still within the capture space. This maximises the area, giving full coverage throughout the entire room and providing a greater level of flexibility around camera placement.

Additionally Vertex gives customers the ability to create bespoke and robust mounting solutions. Together with this lightweight build the amount of vibration felt by the cameras is reduced which means they require less calibration – resulting in quicker set-up times.

“The gap between the virtual and physical worlds are continuously merging and Vertex was designed to help experiences feel seamless and environmentally agnostic. Our system enables a wide range of engineers and technicians to easily create virtual environments from the small spaces they have available. This results in an increased ability to innovate within the virtual reality industry and gain new insights into human movement,” said Warren Lester, engineering product manager at Vicon.