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Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 10 Sep 2020, 15:30
by JohnWillimas
Has anyone given this a go?

I'm tempted but I'd like to hear a real user's experience first... :dunno:

https://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/content. ... -MSFS-2020

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 11 Sep 2020, 07:26
by chrispbits
I take you have to somehow strap the phone to your head with camera facing out or position the phone so its camera picks up your head movements? Interesting concept but if the former I have just enough hair to ensure that removing the duct tape will be painful.

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 11 Sep 2020, 10:04
by Charlie Bravo
I purchased it a couple of days ago and it works well.

You download a free app on the PC which runs in the background and then you run the paid for app (Smooth Track) on your phone.
You just prop your phone up so the camera is facing you.
The phone app simply feeds the movement data to the PC via WiFi which in turn feeds the sim with the same.

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 11 Sep 2020, 12:16
by JohnWillimas
Well, I decided to risk a tenner and managed to get it working OK (with an inevitable fair bit of fiddling with the OC firewall and router settings to let the phone and PC talk to each other). Balanced my phone under my monitor and it certainly picks up head movements well and translates them into the sim correctly. I'm not sure if its a "keeper" yet - seems very jumpy (or maybe I've just got to learn to sit stiller....) but worth persisting with, I think

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 11 Sep 2020, 14:00
by Airspeed
I'm CONSIDERING it, but unlike VR goggles, the screen is in a fixed place.
When the user turns their head, surely the only way to see the screen is by swivelling the eyes?
This seems counter-intuitive, and -productive. Am I misunderstanding the situation?

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 11 Sep 2020, 14:09
by DaveG
Yep, thats the way it works Mike, just like TrackIR. I haven't tried this one myself yet though.
Normally the movement is exaggerated so moving your real head say 20 degrees moves your virtual head 40 (configurable).
You soon get used to it.

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 11 Sep 2020, 14:24
by Airspeed
Thanks Dave.

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 12 Sep 2020, 10:26
by Airspeed
D/ld the PC bit Open Track.
After many attempts to find SmoothTrack in Google Playstore, found a link in Firefox.
Then paypal told me that my password was wrong (it wasn't) Then paypal told me they weren't supporting "this version" of paypal. :rant:
Eventually got into my account.
Tried to buy :doh: "This item is not compatible with your device". (Samsung S5 on 4G) :wall: :wall:

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 15 Sep 2020, 22:26
by JohnD
I’ve installed it and after a while got it working.
It’s better than TrackIR because there are no trailing leads and head contraptions.

Initial thoughts are that I could get used to it and will persevere especially with the new MSFS. Just need to get the head movements right.

Great value also.

Re: Head Tracker for your smart phone...

Posted: 16 Sep 2020, 00:01
by blanston12
Does anyone know if the app you run on your PC can read from the built in laptop camera or a webcam plugged into the computer?