Virtual Reality (VR) is spreading its wings in all aspects of online experiences. Some of the biggest companies in the world are now getting serious about VR and 360-degree technology, building new products for their customers. Let’s take a closer look at VR, including reviews of top gear.
Introduction
The concept of VR has been talked about for decades, but its only in recent times, you can see lot of real action happening in that space.
Companies today are much more sure about the potential of virtual reality (VR) and are spending billions on VR.
Virtual reality is now attracting several creative people, including filmmakers, who are intrigued by the new medium and are developing content for it.
American virtual reality technology company Oculus VR designed the popular product Oculus Rift, a head-mounted display for immersive virtual reality (VR). Since then, several other players have entered the market (Gear VR, Oculus, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR), offering lighter headsets.
Best VR Systems
Prices of VR system have reduced a lot over the years, and this is how technology moves forward (prices drop so more people can afford it).
Here we take a look at the best VR (Virtual Reality) systems and headsets.
Oculus Rift + Touch Virtual Reality System
The Oculus Rift is probably the most famous VR headset, and is credited for starting the VR wave. Oculus Rift plugs into your computer’s DVI and USB ports and tracks your head movements to provide 3D imagery on its stereo screens. It comes with a camera to add more movement detection information.
- Best-looking VR headset, resembles a pair of Ski goggles.
- Using the Rift for an extended period of time still keeps you cool and comfortable (unless other headsets where it becomes uncomfortable after playing active games)
- The Oculus Touch controllers make all the difference to the overall experience, making it even more enjoyable to interact with the virtual environment.
Buy Oculus Rift and Touch virtual reality system on Amazon.
HTC Vive VR System
The HTC Vive offers 360 degree head-tracking as well as a 90Hz refresh rate. Lighthouse room tracking enables you to move around with the headset on. Get visually, physically and emotionally amazed by new virtual worlds.
Sony PlayStation VR
PS VR is an accessory for the PS4 console, so its cheaper compared to the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. Features 5.7-inch OLED screen, refresh rate of 120Hz.
Samsung Gear VR
The Gear VR uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone as its processor and display. Just place it in the phone, stick on the headset and you’re into your virtual reality experience. The Samsung Gear VR is among the cheapest, but need a Samsung handset to take advantage.
Google Cardboard
Google Cardboard virtual reality headset is a low-cost way to experience virtual reality. Its inexpensive and supports a wide range of smartphone models (any smartphone that fits into the front and stays secure.)
StarVR Headset
The StarVR headset may not be available to the public just, but it will be available at select IMAX centres.
IMAX plans to add virtual reality to its IMAX theater experience. The VR centers will be equipped with StarVR headset (developed by Acer.)
Although other popular headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are now available to buy, and already used in most homes, users will have to have to wait for the StarVR headsets.
Virtual Reality Backpack PC
This virtual reality backpack PC lets you experience VR the way it should ideally be, without being attached using cords. The computer is packed in a light-weight package that you can comfortably wear, minus the cords.
Things to note:
This computer does not come with a screen. You need to plug it into a TV or computer screen. VR headset is not included.
If you want to have a completely immersive VR experience right now, and want to jump around like an animal, buy this one, and make some serious space in your room/garage/basement. Better still, get two, and forget about all the other games you have played in the past against your family on the couch.
Broomx to provide headset-free VR experience
Barcelona-based startup Broomx wants to give users a headset-free VR experience through its MK Player360 VR projection system. Once it’s set up, the user can control it via a smartphone app and have their entire field of vision inside a room covered by projections.
“One of the features our projector gives you is the possibility to connect anything that can be connected in a room, like lights. We can synchronize those elements with the projection, with the scene you’re watching. So, like, underwater — we have one experience where you can see waves, and the lights of the room, they turn blue. And the bed is moving like the waves. When you go underwater and there are no waves, the bed stops moving,” said Broomx chief communications officer Ignasi Capella.
Virtual Reality: Beginners’ Guide
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated recreation of a real life environment or situation. It gives you a completely immersive experience.
VR today has uses in gaming and films, entertainment, health-care and many other industries.
Virtual Reality: Explained (Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard, and everything about VR)!
History of VR
Nasa and the US Air Force did try using a crude form of virtual reality to train their pilots (way back in 1963). However, the program ran into a problem as pilots found it physically very uncomfortable (getting disoriented, vomiting after only a few minutes using the headsets, etc.)
Almost five decades later, things started falling in place for VR.
In 2014, Facebook paid $2bn for a startup virtual reality company, Oculus Rift. Couple of months later Microsoft paid $2.5bn for Minecraft.
Suddenly, VR was ready to take off.
VR in Gaming
Virtual Reality has been dominating the gaming space for some time now. Gamers love the way VR engages them and transforms the entire gaming experience.
While experts are predicting virtual reality to make a huge impact on the gaming industry, manufacturers are figuring out ways to reduce the cost of headsets, and still figuring out ways to completely eliminate the effect of fatigue & dizziness on players, resulting from VR.
Headsets like Oculus rift, HTC Vive, Microsoft HoloLens are compatible with a PC and have seen enormous success since their release.
There are several impressive demos and proof-of-concepts out there that demonstrate how VR will enhance the gaming experience. Puzzle games, driving simulators, space/flight combat games, are some of the popular VR games that people are already enjoying.
Not only can one expect interesting and unique games coming out in the near future (games that will showcase the real power of VR), even the VR-capable hardware should get significantly cheaper from here on. And with people already owning high-end PCs, there is no going back on VR for gamers from here on.
VR in Film-making
VR has taken over the gaming space, and is now intriguing more and more filmmakers all over the world as it offers potential for much greater immersion.
Increasingly affordable virtual reality technology is making it easier for students to put viewers in their shoes via filmmaking projects, according to The Hechinger Report.
Mettle Launches 360/VR Master Training Series To Teach Aspiring Filmmakers
Mettle (www.mettle.com) has launched a free, comprehensive 360/VR Master Training Series designed to teach aspiring 360/VR filmmakers the cinematic 360/VR production workflow in a step-by-step tutorial video series.
The entire series is organized into 4 chapters, covering:
- Intro to VR: Basics of 360/VR, its impact on storytelling for filmmakers, current tools and technology available on the market, production and post production considerations, the importance of ‘stitching,’ and using an optimized workstation.
- Importing, Editing and Organizing 360 video clips in Adobe Premiere Pro.
- Adding Transitions, Post FX and Graphics in the 360 Space: Learn to visually enhance 360 productions with effects, graphics, titling, transitions and more;
- Exporting Your 360/VR Projects: Final stage of the 360/VR production workflow with critical tips on the best ways to experience your productions.
Mettle 360/VR Master Training Series is completely free of charge and is available now on the Mettle website- 360VR Master Series.
Virtual Reality (VR) in Class Room
Virtual Reality (VR) companies like Jaunt and Oculus are taking virtual reality to the class room; they are conducting Master Classes and workshops to teach rules of this new revolution in filmmaking.
The structure of it will explore the technology in terms of viewership but also explore how to film, shoot, and light for a virtual story,” Saschka Unseld, the creative director at Oculus Story Studio
Some films will definitely be improved by being experienced in a VR device. Specific tools and skills, new to filmmaking, are needed for filmmaking in VR, but every director can make the shift if they want to.
Virtual reality filmmaking has now captured the attention of even the elite filmmakers in Hollywood. Top Hollywood director Christopher Nolan says that he’s open to filming in virtual reality.
Nolan even compared VR’s relationship with traditional filmmaking to video games. “It’ll be its own medium. I never get asked anymore, ‘do you think video games will kill movies?’ 10 years ago I was asked that all the time. They’re two different mediums.”
However, multiple Oscar winner Steven Spielberg fears storytelling could suffer if viewers of virtual reality films are given the choice where to look.
“I think we’re moving into a dangerous medium with virtual reality,” he said. “The only reason I say it is dangerous is because it gives the viewer a lot of latitude not to take direction from the storytellers but make their own choices of where to look.
“I just hope it doesn’t forget the story when it starts enveloping us in a world that we can see all around us and make our own choices to look at,” added Spielberg.
VR in Healthcare
Virtual Reality is not just for playing games and to experience movies, its going to be widely used in the healthcare industry as well. There’s a lot of research that backs up the potential clinical uses of VR.
Lot of research has already been done that shows VR can help people overcome their fears and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
‘A Walk Through Dementia’ virtual reality app created by charity Alzheimer’s Research UK lets you experience what it is like to live with different forms of dementia.
Its been observed that people who have experienced chronic pain for years, are so distracted by the escapism of virtual reality that their pain goes away. By teaching the body to deal with pain in different ways, brains can be programmed to block the pain out, and without the side effects of drugs.
There are many more such uses in the healthcare industry.
New Smartphones with Better Cameras Embrace Virtual Reality
The newer top-of-the-line smartphones are going to be equipped with better cameras with provision to attach VR headset so that the content can be viewed for maximum impact.
Samsung’s 360-degree camera – the Gear 360 – is designed to make it easy to take all-around photos and videos that can be uploaded to Facebook and YouTube, or viewed as immersive experiences on Samsung’s virtual reality Gear VR headsets.
Experts see these moves (towards virtual reality) as a strategy to boost interest in their headsets at a time of slowing sales.
“Numerous 360-degree cameras are being launched and users will want to get access to this content. Although it can be viewed on a standard smartphone or PC screen, the most impactful way of looking at this content is with a VR headset – this is undoubtedly going to drive sales of these products.”
Mark Zuckerberg also announced a partnership with Samsung to promote the use of virtual reality on their social network.
“We want to make Facebook the best video platform for virtual reality and Samsung is the only company in the world that can provide a good experience in terms of virtual reality,” said Zuckerberg.
Rival South Korean tech firm LG also revealed their premium handset, which is made using different components that can be independently upgraded or replaced.
Animation on VR Platforms
While there are several tools out there trying to enable classical animation on vr platforms, Animvr seems to have made some really good progress.
ANIMVR is a frame by frame animation software for VR. It lets users draw & animate in VR, providing a set of tools like frames, onionskin, multiple timelines etc (used in traditional animation).
Watch: ANIMVR on HTCVive – Creating a simple scene
The National Film Board of Canada has an advanced stereoscopic 3D tool for hand-drawn animation called SANDDE, but the tool is not commercially available.
Future of VR
“There’s a saying in technology: It’s often easier to predict what the world is going to be like 20 years from now, than it is to predict what the world is going to be like three years from now,” Mark Zuckerberg.
It’s very easy to get caught up in the hype of virtual reality, but a leading VR scientist (Michael Abrash) gives us a reality check. Some of his bold predictions:
- Eye tracking will improve because it’s vital, but it might not be perfect
- Your field of view will improve, but it won’t be 20/20 vision
- A limited number of experiences will sound amazing, but only some
- Physical controllers will continue to rule
- Read more…
Holocaust Documentary represents a high point in VR filmmaking
16-min Holocaust Documentary The Last Goodbye (debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival) proves that VR Filmmaking, when used correctly, is not just a gimmick.
In the film, the viewer is guided through the remarkably well-preserved Majdanek Concentration Camp in Poland by Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter.
Wingnut AR, augmented reality studio by director Peter Jackson
Tabletop AR experience made using Apple’s augmented reality developer kit called ARKit and Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 4. Produded by Wingnut AR, augmented reality studio started by director Peter Jackson. The experience blended a real world environment – the tabletop – with digital objects, in this case a sci-fi location complete with attacking spaceships, while being viewed live, on an iPad.
Singer releases two videos for her song (normal and a VR version)
British singer, songwriter Sampha released two videos for “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano” – a normal video and a VR version. “Like the Piano” now has a 260-degree video that could literally knock you to the floor, if you’re new to the disorientation of virtual reality.
Watch: non-VR version
“We’re beginning to see not only the ability to take your music and your live concert streams and your VR and 360 experiences with you on mobile devices, but to merge together the two in really unique ways to provide really fantastic experiences for fans,” said Vivien Lewitt, YouTube’s global head of artist relations.
So does that mean the end of the road for traditional music videos?
Well, not yet!
Most musicians say that they don’t want to stop creating traditional music videos, but smartphones have opened up new avenues for visually creative bands to experiment and find new audiences. “Everyone has a smartphone, so everyone has an ability to see these 360 videos and they all have the ability to do VR”.
McDonald’s Happy Meal boxes turn into Virtual Reality headsets
If you stop by a McDonald’s in Sweden, you get Happy Meal boxes that transforms itself into a pair of virtual reality goggles. Just slide your smartphone into the specially folded box and you can play a game where you hit the ski slopes.
Word of caution: Not only does the meal now come with a helping of diabetes and early childhood obesity, now your child have something that can ruin their eyes as well. Not sure if I want to say “I’m loving it”.
Checkout this video: Grandma just visited Jurassic Park.
There are many who think that VR is a fad, and will pass away after its time. However, there are some who think that its really going to be big. Just like the mobile phone (which was ridiculed earlier because of their bulky sizes) that went on to replace the landline telephones.
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