The STEM System aims to bring better motion tracking for virtual reality gaming

Since the advent of the Oculus Rift, motion controls in gaming seem to be getting a new life. Despite the rather unsuccessful (for serious gaming) Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Kinect, technology is proving to have advanced far enough since to make it viable. Enter the STEM System: an attempt at motion controls by the folks behind the Sixense technology used by the Razer Hydra. The makers are currently running a campaign on Kickstarter to get enough funds for mass production of the system.

The STEM System is a wireless, modular motion tracking controller for video games. It allows players to interact with games by tracking the full position and orientation of the STEM sensors at all times. It works at both the close-range desktop level as well as bigger-scale gaming such as in the living room. STEM also works well with other virtual reality gaming peripherals, such as the Oculus Rift and the Virtuix Omni.

At the time of writing, the STEM System’s campaign sits on a pile of $400,673, which is just a hundred thousand shy of being double the Kickstarter goal of $250,000. What’s even more astonishing is the fact that all of the money has been raised on the first day of the campaign itself. It still has 29 more days to go, and will undoubtedly be funded even further.

The STEM System will support up to five wireless motion tracking modules, or STEMs, for full position and orientation tracking of the head and hands, the entire body, or other configurations. You can also clip or strap a STEM to your body or any device you choose using a STEM Pack. These STEM packs use the same technology that is present in the Razer Hydra.

Backers of the Kickstarter campaign will get a special edition for early adopters and developers. It will be a feature-complete version of STEM.