Valve is working on hand tracking support for Steam Link on Quest
Valve is working on hand tracking for Steam Link. SteamVR is also being prepared for the input method.
The release notes for the SteamVR 2.8.1.beta update originally stated that Steam Link would be getting support for hand tracking. However, this line was quickly removed, as reported by Brad Lynch via X. It is possible that the new feature was not fully ready yet.
PC VR games and apps can be wirelessly streamed to Meta Quest via Steam Link. Other popular solutions include Virtual Desktop and Air Link.
Looks like Steam Link for Quest will add hand tracking soon in a beta?
They originally pushed the 2.8 Beta patch notes with the added support in the log. But quickly removed it ? pic.twitter.com/dA1E2dFvlt
AdAd- Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) August 8, 2024
Valve also appears to be working on implementing hand tracking at the SteamVR level. Lynch and his data mining team found evidence of the integration of pinch gestures for controlling SteamVR, as well as direct touch interaction via index finger for overlays.
Valve is preparing a version of the iconic VR demo "The Lab" that is controlled via hand tracking, Lynch writes.
Valve is not only working on adding hand tracking pinch gestures to control SteamVR at a system level:
AdAdThey're also adding direct touch interaction with overlays via index fingers
They're also going to showcase 2016's "The Lab" with fully supported new gesture/hand pose control pic.twitter.com/MPD31NqOHd
- Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) August 9, 2024
SteamVR is opening up to new input methods
It looks like Valve is modernizing SteamVR and preparing it for new input methods (both hand and eye tracking).
The Meta Quest operating system, Meta Horizon OS, can be navigated with hand tracking and supports direct touch interaction since v50. Apple relies entirely on hand and eye tracking for Vision Pro and does not even include controllers.
SteamVR will likely use the hand tracking technology of the connected headset for hand tracking (if available). We can only speculate about the exact implementation at the moment.
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