The use of lipo batteries and wireless HDMI/USB for wire free movement.

I'm sure a solution has already been designed and in the works to be out there soon, but people knowing about them would be a turnoff as it would factor in to people's perceived costings (since no one would want a cable if a non-cable solution existed). Being as they're already expensive units I would imagine they'll wait it out a little while before announcing them, that's my theory anyway. :)

Including them in the box would have pushed up the price point further and made it even more unattainable for the 'normal' person.

I can see people homing in on the cable as being the single biggest drawback so a wireless unit that clips on the belt with rechargeable battery etc will be the first 'must have' accessory, almost without doubt.

wireless is an additional layer of software/hardware, and introduces unacceptable levels of loop latency.

So, no wireless.

Additionally, wireless is most definitely bad for your health. Especially if one is going to try and wear it on their body for extended periods of time, for years to decades, on a day to day basis.

I'm sure it can be done w/ some plug-n-plays.  You should see what we do in RC.  Stuff has to be constantly modded.  With the invention of the 3D printer and some soldering, I think it's possible to implement it easily.

For the sake of not damaging the product I will not mod it.  I will just get used to and forget the wire keeps hitting my arm when I play Project Cars.

RC FPV with its low bandwidth analogue signal is a very different thing to passing all the data that the Rift is using over wireless. As mentioned, current signal processing tech would introduce more latency than would be ideal and would harm the experience, if not just outright make you sick... 

I'm sure it will come with time, but would need dev level input to sync everything up in such a way as to work around the latency.

I agree, I jumped the mark on the wireless thing. Hopefully it will come along sooner than later though.

KBK said:

wireless is an additional layer of software/hardware, and introduces unacceptable levels of loop latency.

So, no wireless.

Additionally, wireless is most definitely bad for your health. Especially if one is going to try and wear it on their body for extended periods of time, for years to decades, on a day to day basis.

i agree on it not being possible due to added latency in the transport layer of the connections;

but on that last bit? no just no.......

this article explains it rather nicely : here

the kind of emf your thinking of is on the order of 100 watts of transmission power and higher (though prolonged exposure at power levels of at least 50 watts can have side effects if exposed for long durations in the order of months and years of constant or near-constant exposure); wifi routers or anything on the 2.4Ghz RF spectrum are legally limited to a max transmission output of 4watts in the US ( see here ) in european countries it is often even more strict.
but even YEARS of constant around the clock exposure to wifi band EMF (2.4Ghz or 5Ghz) would not have a detrimental effect on anyone except in the rare case of very young children ( less than 2 yrs of age ) due to the fact that their body is still developing rapidly.

the only case in which wifi would be harmful and legal is in PTP (point to point) long range microwave (wifi) communications equipment and even then the equipment is designed to be unidirectional and ONLY transmit in a direct straight line from the antenna (so it's aimed at another antenna a long distance away)
these kinds of emitters can legally has a transmission power up to 158 Watts and are generally used for corporate or governmental agencies for extreme long distance data comms; one here in connecticut connects what used to be an AT&T distribution hub to the regional hub over 180 miles away