V4Friend Posted June 22, 2011 Posted June 22, 2011 Hello ED-developers, Releasing the headtracker-API was a good thing and showed that you are indeed listening to the users. The basics of the headtracker-API look good and implementing the 32- and 64-bit interface for FaceTrackNoIR (and FreeTrack) was not difficult. Since I have quite a bit of experience with head-tracking (and the necessary interfaces to various games and flight-sims), I hope you will also listen to some suggestions I have for improving the interface :smartass:. First, I think it would be good if DCS checks the status of the headtracker, to see if it is 'active'. The function getHeadTrackerData retrieves the data, but there's no way to indicate to DCS that this data is 'new'. As a result of this, DCS even forces the camera to '0', when the headtracker is not running at all (any more). The HeadTrackerData structure could contain a frame-counter or a field 'tracker-status', for instance. This would also give the user the option to pause headtracking, to push some buttons in the cockpit... The headtracker now overrides all camera-input of other devices, but it would be nice if both could work together. Input of other devices could be used as 'offset' to the head-pose (like it is done in Wings of Prey)? Users have asked me if it is possible to show some kind of 'On Screen Message', when the status of the headtracker changes. For instance, when the user pauses or resumes head-tracking, it would be handy if a status-message could be shown (HUD?). I'm sure other users will have similar or new ideas. Could this thread be dedicated to that? Thanks in advance for listening.... (again). :pilotfly:
jmod Posted June 25, 2011 Posted June 25, 2011 I'm with you man! BTW, when will FaceTrackNoIR 1.6 be released? Let's fly together for the sake of peace :)
V4Friend Posted June 27, 2011 Author Posted June 27, 2011 I'm with you man! BTW, when will FaceTrackNoIR 1.6 be released? Hi jmod, Thanks! About 1.6: you may have noticed I got a little 'side-tracked', by the ED headtracker API and by a nice little sunny holiday :D. Development on 1.6 is well on the way, but there are a few things I started at the same time and which are all 'half-done'. With July being my "Tour de France"-month, the release of 1.6 will at least have to wait till August. :joystick:
BigBANGtheory Posted June 30, 2011 Posted June 30, 2011 I don't know how feasible this would be but it occured to me the other day that many of the head tracking movements are repetative i.e. looking side to side horizontally or focusing on specific panels. To that end would it be a good idea to weight the motion by learning from the user input to make it more predictable for the software and deliver a smoother experience. In essence to trade a little freedom for a more polished result.
V4Friend Posted July 1, 2011 Author Posted July 1, 2011 Fuzzy I don't know how feasible this would be but it occured to me the other day that many of the head tracking movements are repetative i.e. looking side to side horizontally or focusing on specific panels. To that end would it be a good idea to weight the motion by learning from the user input to make it more predictable for the software and deliver a smoother experience. In essence to trade a little freedom for a more polished result. That might be a good idea: fuzzy logic! I'll have to sleep on it...
Aries Posted July 22, 2011 Posted July 22, 2011 Tried both (V4Friend & samtheeagle) headtracker.dll's in Win 7 64bit... There is one difference between the two I noticed (I use FacetrackNoIR with PS3 Eye). When DCS A-10C starts without the FacetrackNoIR software being active, with samtheeagle's .dll I can freely move my view with the HOTAS POV Hat, and when V4Friend's .dll is in place that is not possible and the view is stuck looking forward... must be some sort of headtracker api active/inactive detection problem... Btw. the greatest feature of all would be if the headtracker api could be fallback-ed to POV-Hat commands in-game (at the detection of headtracking stop), for those sensitive moments like zoomed in gun strafing or looking zoomed steadilly at a point on the ground where the situational awareness is less important... Grat work anyway & thx!!! :thumbup: [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] ...the few, the proud, the remaining...
V4Friend Posted July 24, 2011 Author Posted July 24, 2011 (edited) Hi Aries, Thanks for your feedback. I'll look into Sam's solution for that: it's always good to learn. BTW.: when you 'stop' tracking (using the short-key), I guess you still cannot use the POV, even with Sams' solution? A word for the ED-developers: I have asked (in a polite manner, I think), for some feedback in this thread. There has been none so far. Maybe it's interesting for ED to know, that the headtracker-interface DLL's have been downloaded 1400 times in the last two months (the stats of SourceForge have just been restored). I think that's enough indication to take it serious?! Thanks in advance. :music_whistling: Edited July 24, 2011 by V4Friend
Aries Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Hi Aries, Thanks for your feedback. I'll look into Sam's solution for that: it's always good to learn. BTW.: when you 'stop' tracking (using the short-key), I guess you still cannot use the POV, even with Sams' solution? Yup... can't use POV Hat with any of the two... headtracker somehow disables the HOTAS inputs for view... :doh: [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC] ...the few, the proud, the remaining...
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