Meta’s CTO, Andrew Bosworth, has shared his expectations for the company’s Quest headset features by 2031, including resolution, field of view, refresh rate, weight, and audio solutions. In an interview with “The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionize Everything” author Matthew Ball, Bosworth discussed the progress Meta hopes to achieve with its headsets in the early 2030s.
Bosworth believes that by 2031, Meta’s headsets will have a resolution of at least 45 pixels per degree, providing a clear and realistic visual experience. He also mentioned that a wide field of view will be important for improving the sense of immersion, although the vertical field of view may have a greater impact on that feeling.
A wider field of view will be crucial for enhancing the sense of immersion in virtual reality. While both horizontal and vertical FOV are important, Bosworth suggests that the vertical FOV may have a more significant impact on the feeling of being truly present in the virtual world.
In terms of refresh rate, Bosworth expects headsets to reach 120Hz, which will lead to a smoother and less blurry experience when moving. This will be particularly important for fast-paced action games and virtual experiences.
Reducing the weight of the headsets is also a priority, as comfort is a crucial factor for extended use. Lighter headsets will make VR more comfortable and enjoyable for longer periods, especially for users who are prone to motion sickness.
Bosworth suggests that the headsets will incorporate advanced noise-cancellation and spatial sound reproduction systems, providing an immersive and realistic audio experience. This will further enhance the sense of presence in virtual reality and allow users to better hear and interact with virtual soundscapes.
While these projections provide a glimpse into Meta’s future plans, it’s important to note that technology is constantly evolving, and these specifications may change over time. However, they do offer a promising vision of what VR headsets could be capable of in the near future.
Meta is also working on other technologies that could be integrated into future Quest headsets, such as eye tracking and haptic feedback. The company is facing competition from other VR headset manufacturers, such as HTC, Valve, and Sony. The price of VR headsets is expected to continue to decrease as the technology matures, making them more accessible to a wider audience.
