Microsoft to Detail Its Windows 10 VR Headset Plans in December

US tech giant Microsoft is planning to hold two WinHEC events in December that will reveal its virtual reality (VR) headset plans for Windows 10.

The Windows Hardware Engineering Community (WinHEC) is a series of technical conferences and workshops, where Microsoft elaborates on its hardware plans for Windows devices. The first event will be held between December 8 and December 9, while the second event will be held between December 14 and December 15.

Microsoft at its Surface event last week announced it had partnered with HP, Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Asus to produce VR headsets for Windows 10 PCs, are are especially optimised for mixed reality experiences, using the Windows Holographic shell and experience.

Both the events are designed for hardware manufacturers to better understand the software plans for Windows Holographic, a mixed reality platform built around the API of Windows 10. Speaking with Polygon, Microsoft's HoloLens chief Alex Kipman said more details about the VR headsets would be provided at the WinHEC events in December.

Kipman said the first wave of VR headsets will be opaque, so users will not be able to see through them directly without the aid of cameras. He also revealed that the headsets will feature a wide field of view, will be tethered to the computer via a long wire, allow six degrees of freedom, and support inside-out tracking.

The initial devices will start shipping after the Windows 10 Creators Update is made available to download in March 2017 and will function like VR headsets that connect to a PC, and will support six degrees of freedom and inside-out tracking.

(Also see: Windows 10 Creators Update Coming Early 2017; Free for All Users)

Written with inputs from IANS