OptiTrack MoCap Technology Powers Virtual Reality Hiking Experience for Merrell

For the recent launch of its new Capra hiking boot, outdoor apparel brand Merrell aimed to make a splash with its adventure-loving customers by transporting them to a mountaintop using virtual reality (VR) technology. Merrell and its advertising agency, Hill Holliday, teamed with Framestore's new VR and Immersive Content Studio to create TrailScape , the first ever walk around commercial VR project, which utilizes Oculus Rift VR headsets and OptiTrack's motion capture technology.

Framestore developed a VR platform that combines the Rift's highly immersive display with OptiTrack's 3D tracking technology to map users' physical movements to their position and perspective within the virtual environment - marking a technical leap forward in immersive VR. This combination of motion capture and VR lets Merrell fans virtually traverse the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, experiencing all the thrills and potential risks of a high altitude hike. The installation also includes physical elements such as a wood suspension bridge, a rock wall, and fans.

From concept to completion, TrailScape took about six months to execute. Framestore tested multiple motion capture solutions and ultimately chose OptiTrack due to its blend of precision and low latency - a crucial factor for updating the VR environment in real time as users move through the installation. The installation debuted at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, and included twenty of OptiTrack's Prime17W motion capture cameras plus Motive software.

Merrell and Hill Holliday really wanted an experience that would resonate with consumers and inspire them to get outdoors. Walk around VR was something we had been itching to do for a while and this was the perfect opportunity. OptiTrack's motion capture systems are powerful, reliable and ensured that TrailScape' would run seamlessly. We had no prior blueprint for walk around VR and OptiTrack was very supportive throughout the whole process, said Christine Cattano, Executive Producer, Framestore.

We knew the experience we wanted couldnt afford to miss a beat when tracking participants as they moved around freely and in unpredictable ways, but also knew we needed to work within a tight footprint that wouldnt give us much breathing room when it came to camera placements. But even with the first demo Framestore walked us through, the performance of the setup blew our team away. Everyone on the ground at Sundance, including the competition, was very complimentary of the experience. Blown away was a term we heard a lot, said Mike Rubenstein, VP Integrated Operations, Hill Holliday.

Everyone from game developers to filmmakers to advertisers has been working to take VR to new heights, and motion capture is at the forefront of that push, commented Seth Steiling, Marketing Director, OptiTrack. By combining OptiTrack with VR, Framestore has expanded the scope and fidelity of its virtual platform, resulting in an immersive experience that is primed for a host of new verticals.

For more information on OptiTrack products and pricing, please visit www.optitrack.com.

About OptiTrack

OptiTrack creates the highest performing 3D tracking hardware and software available today and has become the largest motion capture provider in the world. By delivering the best 3D precision, simpler real time workflows, on-site manufacturing enabling the industry's lowest pricing, and free and open developer access, it has become the favorite of industry leaders in game and film production, university education and research, engineering, life science, sports performance and injury prevention, and many others.

The OptiTrack product line includes motion capture software and high-speed tracking cameras, contract engineering services, the GEARS golf training and club fitting solution, and affiliate commercial tracking products TrackIR and SmartNav.

Entertainment customers include: Activision, Electronic Arts, 343 Industries, US Army Game, Cloud Imperium, Square Enix, Ready at Dawn, TV Globo, NetherRealm, Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, Crytek, Remedy, Game On Audio, The Moving Picture Company, Animatrik Film Design, and other top studios and developers around the world. Engineering customers include: Boeing, KMel Robotics, NASA, Oculus VR, Lockheed Martin, John Deere, Mechdyne, Under Armour, Stanford University, Duke University, Laser Shot, Mitsubishi, and Dassault Systems.

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