Perception Neuron, a VR motion input suit by Beijing-based Noitom Technology, took to Kickstarter on August 8th and came to a very successful conclusion yesterday, reeling in nearly $572,000, more than twice the campaign’s $250,000 goal. Perception Neuron uses up to 30 tiny sensors to track movement from entire limbs down to individual fingers.
Perception Neuron is a wireless motion capture suit that Noitom says can be used for virtual reality input, as well as traditional mocap uses like animation, research, and sports analysis. It is similar to YEI Technology’s PrioVR motion input suit, with the biggest difference being that Perception Neuron offers support for individual finger tracking. Both systems use relative positioning to determine motion input which can be prone to drift.
The product’s Kickstarter campaign started on August 8th, offering early-bird packages of 10 sensors for $175, 20 sensors for $340, and 30 sensors for $500. Naturally the early-bird packages, limited to 100 each, sold out quicky, leaving the prices at $200, $375, and $550 respectively. Also offered was a ‘Super VR backer’s deal’, only available to backers of the Oculus Rift Kickstarter, which offered the 30 sensor package for $375, a generous discount of $175 off the standard 30 sensor package. 189 backers ended up with the Super VR backer’s deal among 1,329 total backers.
Perception Neuron saw steady funding over the duration of its campaign, with a spike on the very last day which lead to an additional 122 backers, adding $57,133 to the crowdfunding campaign.
Noitom expects Perception Neuron to be delivered to backers by February 14th, 2015. The company is working on a Perception Neuron pre-order page for those that missed the Kickstarter, but it is still listed as being under construction.