Chapter 356 - Virtual Technology (2/2)
In the product test room, they got to witness the brand-new product by the name of “Fantasy 1st Gen.” The product consisted of a helmet with a whole lot of induction wires sticking on it, a metal chair and a capsule-shaped experience cabin.
Liu Yuankai, who was responsible for the development of this system, explained it to Chen Jin and others:
“Mr. Chen, Mr. Ling, everyone, the development of this device has taken us six long years!”
He picked up the helmet full of wires and sighed. “Such a device can simulate 40% pain, 55% touch, 14% smell, and 10% taste. It can use brain waves and eye movements to manipulate characters in the virtual world to perform permitted arbitrary actions.”
“Adding up with the 99% visual and 96% hearing simulation, the comprehensive simulation of this virtual helmet should be at 50%.”
“Its simulations are nowhere close to reality, but compared to other VR products on the market, it is definitely an era-defining leap. Before the Fantasy 1st Gen, those other products will have nothing that can compete.”
“Once the Fantasy 1st Gen is released, I believe that it will set off a storm and sweep all existing VR products into the trashcan of history. “This is the real future.”
As he spoke, Liu Yuankai felt that he had become fortune’s tool. He was not a programmer. He couldn’t even type a line of the so-called programming codes. He was a pure amateur in the programming field. However, the “Virtual Helmet” project had still been handed over to him. Xing Hai Technologies’s Ling Jundong had approached him numerous times and headhunted him, offering him a superb welfare package.
It wasn’t because he had some halo on him, but because he was the world’s top expert in human brain research.
In the project team, there were more human brain research experts like him than programmers. Moreover, the programmers had to obey their scheduling in entirety, seemingly only playing the role of a handyman.
The “Virtual Helmet” was all about the human brain. The human brain was extremely complicated and mystifying. Only human brain experts had some slight understanding of the connotations of brain waves and were able to decipher some of the brain’s mysteries. Hence, their knowledge was essential in developing a functional virtual helmet.
If this kind of work was left to the programmers or hardware engineers, they would find themselves at a loss right away. Therefore, in a strict sense, the “virtual helmet” was a product of human brain biology, not a simple digital product.
It was conceivable that, compared to a VR product that did not provide sensations such as pain, touch, smell, and taste, this “virtual helmet” could literally be deemed as a magical object.
Moreover, one could experience the virtual world by manipulating their characters through their minds. One did not have to get their feet on the VR treadmill, hold operating handles in their hands, or perform any physical movements. It was self-evident that their new product would provide a better user experience and convenience.
“Speaking of which Old Liu, what is the production cost of the Fantasy 1st Gen?” Chen Jin asked.
“Uhm, about it costs about a hundred grand per unit. It uses a lot of high-purity rare earth metals to improve the detection sensitivity of brain waves.”
“What if it were to be mass-produced? How much could it be reduced to?”
Liu Yuankai shook his head. “Not much. It would still cost above 70 or 80K. The number of rare earth metals in each helmet cannot be reduced. Otherwise, the simulation degree will drop below 50% and mind-controlling will become inaccurate…”
Ling Jundong frowned and said, “Not many people will be able to afford the cost if it is priced at 70 to 80k per unit. Could only the rich be entitled to our product?”
“Relax, there will be a way to reduce costs.” Chen Jin was not at all worried. “In about five years, its cost can be reduced to around 30 thousand and in 10 years, it will cost even less than ten thousand dollars.”
Everyone looked at him with doubts on their faces.
The reserves of rare earth elements on earth were very small. Both the cost of mining and refining them was staggering. With rare earth elements being a must for virtual helmets, where did their boss’s confidence that the cost price would reduce to a third and even a tenth come from? Could there be some new material or new technology that could reduce the usage of rare earth elements?
Liu Yuankai still shook his head. The effectiveness of the rare earth elements was absolutely the best. No material could ever replace it.
Chen Jin, however, gave off a mysterious smile. He lifted his head slightly. His lifted his eyes to the ceiling of the room as his mind roamed into the profoundness of outer space.