HTC has devised a new way to keep astronauts entertained while up in space. The former smartphone manufacturer, which has since pivoted to VR headsets, will be sending three of its HTC Vive Focus 3 headsets to the International Space Station.
The project is being carried out in partnership with an engineering firm, Nord Space, and XR Health as part of a larger effort to improve astronauts’ mental health, who often feel lonely when in space for weeks or months at a time.
The headsets come pre-loaded with software designed to improve mental health, so the astronauts may not be using the headsets to game.
“Astronauts are essentially isolated during their missions for months and years at a time and are confined to small spaces with limited contact with friends and family,” Chief Technology Officer at Nord-Space Aps Per Lundahl Thomsen said. “Creating a virtual platform that addresses their mental health needs while in isolation is imperative for them to maintain a healthy lifestyle when they return.”
HTC says that its team adapted the headsets to work even in space’s microgravity conditions. Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, who is currently in space for a six-month assignment with NASA, will be the first to demo the headset.
In other tech news, the Biden-Harris administration launched an AI Safety Institute.
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