Project Alloy unveiled at the 2016 Intel Developer Forum (IDF).
Application of Intel RealSense technology, a 3D depth sensing technology

Intel unveiled Project Alloy, which brings the future of merged reality to life.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich introduced an all-in-one virtual reality (VR) solution in his opening keynote speech at the 2016 Intel Developer Forum (IDF) held in San Francisco, USA on Tuesday the 16th (local time).

The Alloy platform can deliver a variety of new immersive experiences thanks to Intel RealSense technology, a 3D depth-sensing technology optimized for VR use.


▲ Intel's Craig Raymond demonstrated the Project Alloy VR headset device during the IDF keynote.
On the left is Intel CEO Brian Krzanich.

At this year's 2016 IDF, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich's keynote speech highlighted virtual reality (VR), autonomous driving, and the industrial internet. We presented Intel's vision for future technologies, encompassing a wide range of fields, including the critical role developers will play in bringing this future to life.

“Merged reality will make virtual world experiences more immersive and natural than ever before,” said Krzanich. “This will make experiences that were previously impossible in the real world now possible.”

VR headsets, freedom from wires and immersive experiences

Project Alloy can operate without the cords of a VR headset that need to be connected to a computer. It integrates computing power into the head-mounted device (HMD), allowing users to freely experience VR.

This means that you can enjoy virtual reality with 6 degrees of freedom of movement without being constrained by cords in a wide area. This is made possible by combining collision detection and avoidance features, allowing users to utilize real physical movements when exploring virtual spaces.

▲ Project Alloy

Through fused reality, users can see their own hands, their friends right in front of them, and even the wall they're about to bump into. Using Intel RealSense technology, users can not only see real-world elements like this, but also interact with virtual reality elements using their hands, merging the real and virtual worlds.

No external sensors required: Alloy's fused reality is realized through the Intel RealSense camera attached to the headset device, without the need for any external sensors or other cameras in the room.

By successfully combining Intel's sensing and computing technologies, such as Intel's RealSense technology, with the Alloy HMD, developers, makers, and inventors can now create new immersive experiences of the future. Intel is also collaborating with Microsoft to optimize Windows-based content for Intel-powered VR devices like Project Alloy.

Intel plans to release Project Alloy hardware and application programming interfaces (APIs) to the ecosystem in 2017, enabling developers and partners to build their own branded products based on Alloy designs.