USB C Cable Under the Concept of Metaverse

A lot has happened since Facebook’s first headset brought virtual reality to the masses. Three prominent pieces of hardware—Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR (PSVR)—entered the VR arena in 2016. With the continuous development of technology and the reduction of pricing barriers, more and more industries will adopt virtual reality technology. Facebook might have been the first mover, but it also wants to be the last one.

Besides the release of Oculus Quest 2 in 2020, Facebook also frequently acquires VR game studios and is testing a VR social platform called Facebook Horizon, which allows users to create in the virtual world, similar to Roblox and Minecraft. Meta (formerly Facebook) also released a video of haptic gloves in development in November 2021, which can reproduce a range of sensations in the virtual world, including texture, pressure, and vibration, lined with tiny motors that use the bursts of air to mimic the sense of touch.

While major manufacturers are deploying metaverse, Apple may also launch AR/VR headsets next year. Apple is allegedly planning to use "cutting edge" OLED microdisplays supplied by Sony for its rumored augmented reality glasses. And 5G's high speed, low latency, low energy consumption, large-scale device connection, and other features can support a large number of application innovations needed by metaverse.

With the close integration of technology, content, and hardware, the VR industry has ushered in a new development opportunity. Although there are still challenges, the overall industry is recovering via metaverse. You can think of the metaverse as an embodied Internet where instead of just viewing content --- you are in it.

Nvidia, Oculus VR, Valve, AMD, and Microsoft currently roll out VirtualLink specifications that allow VR headsets to run on smaller devices, such as laptops, tablets, and other devices that offer a single USB C port. The specifications include support for 4 independent high-speed HBR3 DP lines and a 27W power supply, the existing USB 3.1 channels can transmit data for cameras and self-tracking sensors in future VR headsets. This standard is now mainly used in PC VR devices.

The future mixed reality platform will use an open architecture to connect virtual reality headsets to PCs and other devices, only through a USB Type-C cable (USB3.2 Gen2x1 Cable). The problem that the device must be connected by many complicated wires is improved. Compared with the previous situation where multiple sets of cables such as HDMI and USB cables are used on virtual reality headsets, the weight on the user's head can be significantly reduced.

The greatest advantage is USB C can tansfer data fast and convenient, such as USB C can carry higher data bandwidth, and Benefit from the reversible design, it can be inserted in either right-side-up or upside-down position.

With the continuous update of the USB4 standard and PD3.1 specification, this integrated USB4 standard will be applied to the next generation of PC VR devices. In the future MR platform, the USB C interface has a promising future.

As VR expands into new territories, so will VR accessories. In addition to the existing USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A to Type-C Oculus Link cable to unlock PC-powered VR, CableCreation will also launch a Fiber Optic USB C to USB C Quest 2 Link cable for VR headsets soon. We are fortunate to be in such a progressive era, and our products constantly reflect the changing times. The future of virtual reality technology is bright. There are so many applications out there for it already, and will growing up continuously.