Varjo is a Finnish technology company specializing in the development of advanced virtual and mixed reality (VR/MR) solutions. The company was founded in 2016 and has gained significant attention for its innovative approach to creating high-resolution, immersive experiences for various industries. Varjo’s name translates to “shadow” in Finnish, symbolizing the company’s mission to bridge the gap between reality and virtuality. Here are key points about Varjo:
1. Human Eye Resolution: Varjo’s primary innovation lies in its use of human-eye resolution technology. They have developed a unique display system called “Bionic Display,” which integrates a smaller, high-resolution display (known as the “focus display”) within a larger, lower-resolution display. This approach closely mimics the way the human eye perceives detail, allowing for unprecedented levels of clarity in virtual and mixed reality environments.
2. Mixed Reality Focus: Varjo’s XR-3 and VR-3 headsets are designed for both virtual reality and mixed reality experiences. The mixed reality aspect involves the use of cameras on the headset to capture the real-world environment, which can then be overlaid with virtual objects, enabling users to interact with both digital and physical elements seamlessly.
3. Professional Applications: Varjo primarily targets professional industries such as aerospace, automotive, architecture, industrial design, training, and simulations. The high level of detail in Varjo’s headsets makes them well-suited for tasks that require precision and accuracy, such as CAD design, medical visualization, and pilot training.
4. Varjo Workspace: Varjo Workspace is a software feature that allows users to create a virtual workspace within the VR/MR environment. Users can pin and interact with their existing Windows applications, enhancing productivity by providing a more immersive and expansive digital workspace.
5. Industry Partnerships: Varjo has formed collaborations with various industry leaders to optimize its technology for specific use cases. Partnerships include companies like Volvo, Boeing, Airbus, Siemens, and more. These collaborations help tailor Varjo’s solutions to meet the unique needs of different sectors.
6. Varjo Base: Varjo Base is the software platform that accompanies Varjo’s headsets. It enables users to manage their headsets, access updates, and configure settings. The platform also supports integration with popular 3D engines and design tools, ensuring compatibility with existing workflows.
7. Resolution Capabilities: The XR-3 and VR-3 headsets offer exceptional resolution. The XR-3 boasts a human-eye resolution of over 70 pixels per degree, while the VR-3 offers around 60 pixels per degree. This high resolution greatly reduces the “screen door effect” that plagues many traditional VR displays, providing a more lifelike experience.
8. Eye Tracking and Foveated Rendering: Varjo’s headsets include built-in eye tracking technology. This feature allows for foveated rendering, a technique where only the area of the display where the user is looking receives high-resolution rendering. Peripheral areas receive lower-resolution rendering, optimizing performance without sacrificing visual quality.
9. Varjo Reality Cloud: Varjo has introduced the concept of the Varjo Reality Cloud, which envisions a shared, cloud-based platform for immersive experiences. This cloud infrastructure aims to connect Varjo headsets across different locations and enable collaborative interactions within virtual environments.
10. Continuous Innovation: Varjo is committed to advancing its technology to continually push the boundaries of what’s possible in virtual and mixed reality. As of my last update in September 2021, the company may have developed new products, features, or collaborations since then.
Varjo, a Finnish technology firm established in 2016, has garnered widespread recognition for its groundbreaking advancements in the realm of virtual and mixed reality (VR/MR) solutions. The company’s name, meaning “shadow” in Finnish, aptly encapsulates its mission: bridging the gap between reality and the virtual realm. Varjo’s pioneering concept revolves around human-eye resolution technology, a feat achieved through their innovative “Bionic Display.” This technology incorporates a high-resolution “focus display” within a larger, lower-resolution display, mirroring the human eye’s capacity for perceiving detail and leading to unparalleled clarity in virtual and mixed reality environments.
Key among Varjo’s achievements is the development of the XR-3 and VR-3 headsets, designed to cater to both virtual reality and mixed reality experiences. This unique approach integrates cameras on the headset to capture the physical environment, allowing the seamless integration of virtual and real-world elements. This makes Varjo’s offerings particularly appealing to professional sectors such as aerospace, automotive, architecture, industrial design, training, and simulations, where precision and accuracy are paramount. Partnerships with industry leaders such as Volvo, Boeing, Airbus, and Siemens have enabled Varjo to tailor its solutions to meet the distinctive needs of various sectors.
At the heart of Varjo’s ecosystem is the Varjo Workspace software, empowering users to create virtual workspaces within VR/MR environments and interact with familiar Windows applications. By extending the boundaries of the digital workspace, Varjo Workspace enhances productivity and offers a more immersive experience. The Varjo Base software platform complements the headsets, facilitating headset management, updates, and configuration. Moreover, it supports integration with popular 3D engines and design tools, ensuring a smooth convergence with existing workflows.
Varjo’s prowess in resolution capabilities is exemplified by the XR-3 and VR-3 headsets, which offer exceptional clarity. The XR-3 boasts over 70 pixels per degree of human-eye resolution, while the VR-3 offers around 60 pixels per degree. This remarkable detail significantly diminishes the “screen door effect,” a common issue in traditional VR displays that detracts from realism. Notably, Varjo’s headsets feature built-in eye tracking technology, enabling foveated rendering, a technique that optimizes rendering by allocating high-resolution rendering to the user’s point of focus while maintaining lower resolutions in peripheral areas.
The Varjo Reality Cloud is a visionary concept that envisions a shared, cloud-based platform for immersive experiences. This cloud infrastructure seeks to connect Varjo headsets across different locations, enabling collaborative interactions within virtual environments. While my information is based on knowledge available up until September 2021, Varjo’s commitment to continuous innovation suggests the potential development of new products, features, and collaborations that further redefine the boundaries of virtual and mixed reality.
Varjo stands at the forefront of innovation in virtual and mixed reality, renowned for its human-eye resolution displays, professional applications, strategic partnerships, and innovative features such as foveated rendering and the Varjo Reality Cloud. The company’s unwavering focus on delivering high-fidelity experiences has the capacity to revolutionize industries and reshape the manner in which we engage with digital content, ultimately blurring the lines between the real and the virtual.
In summary, Varjo is a pioneering company in the field of virtual and mixed reality, known for its human-eye resolution displays, professional applications, industry partnerships, and innovative features like foveated rendering and the Varjo Reality Cloud. The company’s focus on providing high-fidelity experiences has the potential to revolutionize various industries and redefine how we interact with digital content.
