VR in the house? – consumer’s FAQ by PC Guide

One of my last technology research projects years ago at Hughes was focused on visualization [1]. Visualization, among other things, included applications using virtual reality (VR).

Since then, as noted elsewhere, I’ve followed the topic casually for commercial, industrial and consumer uses. But I’ve not invested in any consumer gear as yet. I’ve wondered, for example, if I’d experience unpleasant side effects from wearing a headset for awhile (cf. the earlier Oculus Rift or HTC Vive and more recent models).

Well, PC Guide’s site has a section on VR, an excellent resource and useful guide on this evolving consumer technology. If you’re already an enthusiast for immersive games, are VR games worthwhile? Are newer gadgets worth the upgrade? Does VR make sense for you and your house?

• PC Guide > Gadgets > VR > “Beginner’s Guide To VR (Virtual Reality)” (2021)

Their guide covers:

  • What Is VR?
  • History of VR
  • Uses of Virtual Reality
  • What You Will Need to Get into VR
  • Possible Side Effects of Using a VR Headset
  • The Future of VR

As well as “best” buying guides for:

  • Seated VR games
  • VR apps
  • Multiplayer VR games
  • VR headsets
  • Cheap VR headsets
  • VR controllers
  • VR laptops
  • VR accessories

As well as individual product “hands on” reviews (e.g., for the Oculus Quest 2), How To’s, and FAQs.

Notes

[1] System visualization is a process which uses dramatization, mockup, modeling, simulation, prototyping … More effective ways to communicate complex systems, key concepts, and wider context – early in the product or service development cycle.

Related posts

• Mixed reality — if the price is right?

6 comments

  1. Here’s an article about prospects for the VR market.

    • Road to VR > “VR Content Revenue Grew by 30% in 2020, Becoming Media’s Fastest-growing Market” by Scott Hayden (Jul 14, 2021)

    (quote) Virtual reality gained impressive ground in 2020, a recent PwC study finds.

    PwC says one of the biggest drivers of VR content revenue growth in 2020 was games, and it’s likely to stay that way moving forward. The study projects VR video is also on the move upwards though, estimating that its global revenue of $615 million in 2020 will expand to $1.4 billion by 2025.

    All things considered, that’s pretty small in the grand scheme of things. For comparison, PwC says subscription video on-demand accounts for around $50 billion in 2020; as Protocol notes, PC and casual gaming is expected balloon to $194.7 billion in annual revenue by 2025.

  2. Re space experiences in VR …

    I look forward to seeing this some time – for those of us who’ll not get to space, VR might be the venue for a view.

    • Time > “Space Explorers: The ISS Experience” is a multiplatform, immersive production filmed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station, produced by Felix & Paul Studios in association with TIME.

    Article

    • Space.com > “‘Space Explorers’ receives Emmy for 360-degree virtual reality space station experience” by Elizabeth Howell (September 23, 2021)

    “We use this medium to take people to places they cannot go,” Félix Lajeunesse, co-founder and creative director of Felix & Paul Studios, told collectSPACE.com in an interview. “For us, that doesn’t necessarily mean creating a fully interactive experience where we ask audiences to press buttons and do other such things as in a game. We remain on the side of a cinematic experience, where what we really try to do is nurture a sense of presence for our audiences.”

  3. Re astronaut experiences in VR …

    • Space.com > “This International Space Station VR experience lets you explore the ISS… and it’s as amazing as it sounds” by Luke Kemp (Sept 24, 2021) – VR allows you to reach places and achieve things that most can only dream about, including floating around the International Space Station.

    (quote) For example, Mission: ISS [link] offers a tantalizing taste of astronaut life, and it’s free. You can get it from the Oculus store for the Oculus Quest 2 system.

    Made with help from NASA, Mission: ISS gives you a little corner of the International Space Station to explore. You’re able to navigate tight spaces in zero gravity, look outside to see the Earth hanging below, and gently bat floating items out of your way – the full astronaut experience!

    You can even go on a simulated spacewalk.

    There’s another, safer, but equally tricky mission. From the safety of the inside of the ISS, you’ll be able to operate the Canadarm 2 which is a giant robotic arm.

    Today’s best VR headset deals

    • Oculus Quest 2 @ Oculus $299
    • Sony PlayStation VR @ Amazon $399.95
    • HTC Vive Cosmos Elite @ Adorama $669

  4. Like sitting too close to a TV screen and … taking a 15-minute break every hour?

    • Space.com > “Is VR bad for your eyes?” by Josh Brown (Oct 17, 2021) – Is VR bad for your eyes, and what can you do to avoid eye strain when using VR headsets?

    (quote) Eye fatigue isn’t unique to VR. Donning a headset might give someone their first dose of motion sickness in VR, but if a bit of eye strain is what concerns you, don’t worry: its causes aren’t unique to VR, and the remedy is much the same.

    The issue isn’t with the screens being so close. It’s that we’re not taking sufficient steps to relax the muscles you eventually strain.

    Big tech now understands that the blue light emitted by most screens plays a big part in the strain we get from looking at them for too long.

    The Oculus Quest 2 even has a night mode built-in at the software level for this reason.

    Feeling eye strain in VR is normal, and the fix is simple: take off the headset, hydrate yourself, and get away from the screens for a bit. Like many of the best things in life, moderation is the key to enjoying them for longer.

    [Article notes “Today’s best VR headset deals.”]

  5. • Space.com > “Best VR space experiences” by Chris McMullen (October 24, 2021) – The best VR space experiences puts space travel within reach of everyone – with the right hardware. [Article includes: Today’s best VR headset deals.]

    (quote) Yes, space exploration is still the domain of a select few, based on their skill sets, celebrity status or bank balances. Most of us won’t get to escape Earth’s gravitational pull, let alone live on the moon. But, thanks to the best VR headsets , all you need to do to take to the stars (or demolish them) is to don a headset and enter virtual reality.

    See article for details on each VR experience, including supported headsets and prices.

    1. Space Explorers: The ISS Experience

    2. Mission: ISS

    3. Spheres

    4. Discovering Space 2

    5. SpaceEngine

    6. Universe Sandbox

  6. These two CNET articles are about Oculus Quest 2 accessories and games and experiences.

    • CNET > “The most important Oculus Quest 2 accessories are on sale today” by Russell Holly (Dec. 27, 2021) – Everything you need to make your Quest 2 even more awesome is on sale today.

    • CNET > “Best Oculus Quest 2 games and experiences” by Scott Stein (Dec. 27, 2021) – Fitness and sports, multiplayer roleplaying, virtual theater, strange worlds: This is what you have to check out first.

Comments are closed.