HTC Vive Air headset surfaces for VR health, however do not get too excited

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HTC is getting some attention this morning thanks to a leak in what appears to be a new fitness-centric VR headset. The headset, dubbed the HTC Vive Air, surfaced in a leak in the World Design Guide today, which actually tells us a decent amount about it. Unfortunately, this new headset seems more of a concept than an actual product, which means we probably won’t be getting it to market anytime soon.

The listing on the World Design Guide website includes some pictures of the Vive Air. These pictures show a headset that is very different from its predecessors. The World Design Guide notes that the design of the Vive Air was “inspired by athletic shoes,” which is pretty obvious considering the amount of knit fabrics used in its construction.

The idea is to develop a breathable headset that will keep the user’s face cooler when exercising in VR. These fabrics are not only breathable, but also dry quickly, according to the World Design Guide. The headset is also lightweight, which has some pretty clear advantages in terms of fitness. If you’re trying to exercise with something bulky and heavy on your head, your workout probably won’t last long.

While the World Design Guide’s listing likely goes a long way in getting VR fitness lovers excited, apparently the Vive Air is just a concept design. In a statement to Upload VR, HTC said, “It’s exciting to see our concept piece, the VIVE Air VR headset, win an iF Design Award. While this is just a concept, the design language contains elements and inspiration that you will see elsewhere in our products. We cannot rest on our laurels. While it’s great to win this award, we have business to deal with – hopefully we’ll see you on 11/12. May at VIVECON. ”

So at the moment there are no plants that could make the Vive Air a real product. That’s a shame because VR-based fitness certainly seems to be gaining momentum. There’s always a chance HTC will see the reaction to this headset and try to turn it into a real product, but at least for now, there doesn’t seem to be any plans to actually produce the Vive Air. Maybe this is all a ruse and the Vive Air will surprise VIVECON next month? Anything is possible, but according to HTC’s statement today, it’s probably best not to get your hopes up.