UC San Diego researchers repurpose 3D HDTV for heads-up VR system

Off the shelf 3D HDTVs should be a touch expensive from a shopper\’s point of view, but they\’re a downright bargain compared to the same old high-end virtual reality gear. This gave some researchers at UC San Diego a bright idea: they\’ve paired a $2,300 Samsung 3D TV with a half-silvered mirror and a slightly-feedback controller for a haptic-enabled heads-up virtual reality system (or HUVR) that costs just $7,000 (without head tracking). What\’s more, they say their system actually outperforms the PARIS HUVR system developed twelve years ago (and still in use), which cost an entire $100,000. Head on past the break for a handy guide a rough video of the rig in action.

[Thanks, Chase]