HTC's Vive virtual reality headset has become the first to introduce a front-facing camera enabling users to incorporate real life objects into their experience, the technology firm said.

The Vive virtual reality headset, created in partnership with gaming platform Valve, has an updated version unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The improved headset also has room-scanning technology that enables a user to move around within a virtual reality (VR) experience, as opposed to standing still throughout.

The new front-facing camera will give users the ability to see the physical world around them, and even incorporate real-life objects into the experience.

Virtual reality is set to be one of the biggest technology trends of 2016, with the Vive set for a consumer launch in April, and other headsets, including the Oculus Rift and Sony's PlayStaton VR also set to go on-sale in the coming 12 months.

However this version of HTC's headset is still only available to developers.

As well as the camera, HTC also announced new versions of the controls run alongside Vive, resting in both hands and used to interact with the virtual world users see.

HTC confirmed that they had 19 partners at CES showing off some form of using Vive, ranging from gaming experiences to artistic and customisation feature of digital objects ready for the physical world.

As part of the update, HTC says that battery life in the controllers has been raised from minutes to around four hours.

A final price has not yet been set for the Vive, though total cost to fully install the system into a home is likely to cost more than £1,000.

The firm admitted that this latest update was still not the final version before launch, still only referring to it as a "stepping stone".

Fully-fledged virtual reality systems are still to be integrated into modern homes, with currently the Samsung Gear VR, which is powered by a smartphone being the only mainstream headset on-sale.