Free head-tracking app

Opentrack is a utility application from sf-editor 1. This software can be used as a tool in virtual reality games and flight simulators. It tracks a user’s head movements and behaviors and then relays the information gathered to the VR game or flight sim software. The app allows for output shaping, operating, and filtering with many input and output devices and protocols. Opentrack is a free head-tracking app that works with various operating systems.

Track the movements

Opentrack comes with a simple—If not a bit outdated—user interface. On the top left of the window displays the camera output once the program is running. There will be a “No Video” mark on it if you don’t have a camera connected to the app. Right beside the camera output is a pink octopus, which will mimic the head movements of the user. Below them are the raw tracker and game data displays. 

Under the raw tracker, you can define the type of tracking method that the app will receive. You only need to select whether you are using a tracking clip with IR-LEDs or your phone as a tracking device. You can also select the protocol that will define how to communicate the movement data from this tool to the game. The choice you make will depend on the protocol that the game is using. After choosing the protocol, you can then choose the filter. The filter takes your raw data and smoothens them a bit, so you don’t get jittering when you look around.

Aside from choosing the filter, users can also adjust the smoothness using the smoothing scale. To get the app up and running quickly, users need only to choose the Tracker, Protocol, and Filter that they want to choose. However, this program also offers other additional settings, including the camera, output, and game detection settings. Once you have set up all the configurations that you want, you only need to click the start button and off you go.

Stable and reliable

There are various head-tracking apps available in the market today, but Opentrack leads the competition when it comes to reliability. It is the only free head-tracking software that is still updated regularly. It is also by far the cheapest setup as you can build your own tracking clip and PS3 camera. However, doing so will require knowledge in setting up.