Virtual Reality Club

[Mindweaver]

I saw the eye tracker. I am seriously considering buying since I am far sighted and it is pretty bad. Have the eye tracking along with prescription lens for VR sounds good to me.

I also purchased the VR Cover foam guard. Holy shit this is way better than the stock foam. Highly recommended!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HM4QB0Y/?tag=tec06d-20
Next mod will be the deluxe audio strap!


Also if you haven't checked it out please try Freedom Locomotion. IMO this is one of the best ways to implement locomotion in VR without using fancy frictionless mats.

I'll give it a try. I also bought a 6mm foam replacement and it gives much better FOV and easier to wipe down between players.

You guys think its worth waiting for Occulus Rift 2.0 to come out? Was thinking of taking the plunge.

Honestly, I wouldn't wait to buy, because it will probably be around the end of 2018 before we see anything. If you're going with Oculus they have a really good deal for the bundled hmd and Touch for $598 (Plus, you get a lot of nice free games example: Robo Recall, Dead and Buried), but if you have the extra money I would buy the Vive due to all the new mods coming out for it this year. Plus, new Vives are 15% lighter than the ones at launch.

If you don't have the extra money then Oculus CV1 is still a nice option. It already comes with a better headstrap and builtin headphones where as Vive users will have to shell out another $100 bucks to get the new Deluxe strap. If money doesn't matter then the Vive with all the new addon's coming gives it more life, but will cost to have it all.

Vive addon's

1. Wireless = $220
2. Deluxe Headstrap = $100
3. Eye tracking = $200 (or more)
4. New controllers = tba

 

[xkm1948]

Just leaving this here. Single most fun VR experience I had over a very long period of time.

 

[davidm71]

i read the Vive is messy with all the wires and some assemble required to get it going?

 

[Mindweaver]

Just leaving this here. Single most fun VR experience I had over a very long period of time.
Yea, I bought this when it first came out. It's really good, but short. I've not finished it but I'm right at the end. I just haven't been able to use it since I cut my finger the other week, but the stitches came out Tuesday.

i read the Vive is messy with all the wires and some assemble required to get it going?

I would have to say the Vive is easier to setup than the Oculus CV1, mainly due to the fact the light houses only need power and don't have to be connected to each other or to your pc. Setting up the CV1 for room scale you will need 3 to 4 camera's and USB3 for each alone with the CV1. Also, the Vive now ships with a thinner cable like the CV1, but longer.

The Vive only needs 1x hdmi and 1x usb2.0 and power all connecting to the link box.

 

[xkm1948]

Steam 360 Video is in Beta. There is a whole lot of FREE VR video content for everyone now. Looks like another fun night with VR!

 

[Mindweaver]

Microsoft unveils its own motion controllers for Windows 10 VR. The Acer HMD is starting to look really good with the controllers. The HMD is only $300, but bundled with the controllers it's only $399. I just hope Microsoft let's it be used with Steam. I know they are manly focused on their store, but I think they would be shooting themselves in the foot to not.

 

[xkm1948]

Microsoft unveils its own motion controllers for Windows 10 VR. The Acer HMD is starting to look really good with the controllers. The HMD is only $300, but bundled with the controllers it's only $399. I just hope Microsoft let's it be used with Steam. I know they are manly focused on their store, but I think they would be shooting themselves in the foot to not.

Let's see what the VR hating TPU community is gonna respond to this.

 

[Mindweaver]

Let's see what the VR hating TPU community is gonna respond to this.

I'm sure everyone will hate on it, but we will see..

 

[xkm1948]

I feel like as a site TPU never gave much attention to VR. No reviews on either Vive or Oculus. Kinda sad.

 

[Mindweaver]

I feel like as a site TPU never gave much attention to VR. No reviews on either Vive or Oculus. Kinda sad.

True, but hopefully that changes in the future. We still have more hmd's coming out this year. Lenovo, HP, Acer, and a few more just for the Microsoft HMD's using inside out tracking. We also, have LG's coming based on Steam's Lighthouse tech. The last creator content update for microsoft was to get everyone ready for the new Microsoft headsets.

 

[dorsetknob]

Let's see what the VR hating TPU community is gonna respond to this

By laughing at your perception of TPU members hatred of VR across many Threads

The tech Still needs more time to mature and the entry price needs to come down
give the Tech time and more people will appreciate it

 

[Mindweaver]

Microsoft Shows AR/VR Concept That Could Revolutionize How We Work

EDIT: I added a Motion controller video above! It looks good.

 

[dorsetknob]

UK virtual reality firm Improbable raises $500m

A London-based virtual reality firm has raised $500m (£388m) in one of the biggest investments in an early stage European technology business.
Japan's Softbank is backing Improbable in a funding round that values the business at more than $1bn.
The deal is further evidence that the UK's technology sector can now compete with the best.
There may also be relief that despite the cash injection from Japan, Improbable will stay independent.
Improbable was founded just five years ago by Herman Narula and Rob Whitehead, who had studied computer science together at Cambridge University. Their aim was to build large-scale virtual worlds and simulations - mainly for games developers but also for other clients who could use them in applications such as modelling transport systems.

The company believes it has developed revolutionary technology with its Spatial OS operating system, which it has opened up to other developers. It has partnered with Google to put its system on the search giant's cloud, allowing small developers to create massive simulations without much infrastructure of their own.

Full Story and pics here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39892251

 

[RCoon]

I feel like as a site TPU never gave much attention to VR. No reviews on either Vive or Oculus. Kinda sad.

If somebody sent us a review sample we probably would!

I got a few requests from developers a few months back to review their VR games. No hardware - I'm sure as hell not dumping $800 on it.

 

[xkm1948]

If somebody sent us a review sample we probably would!

I got a few requests from developers a few months back to review their VR games. No hardware - I'm sure as hell not dumping $800 on it.

@Mindweaver should totally be the reviewer for VR.

Personally I won't mind reviewing VR for TPU as well. Only problem is some TPU members are gonna say I am biased.


https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/...-promised-amature-tpu-htc-vive-review.222032/

 

[Mindweaver]

@Mindweaver should totally be the reviewer for VR.

Personally I won't mind reviewing VR for TPU as well. Only problem is some TPU members are gonna say I am biased.


https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/...-promised-amature-tpu-htc-vive-review.222032/

I don't know if I have the time, but I'll look into it. If I find time I may put something together and shoot it over to @W1zzard, but the main thing for me is finding time... lol I believe with the bigger players starting to come in someone might send us something. Acer's and HP's new HMD is coming out soon. They are using a lower display 1400x1400 with a 95 degree FOV, and can be used with a low end graphics card.

 

[xkm1948]

I don't know if I have the time, but I'll look into it. If I find time I may put something together and shoot it over to @W1zzard, but the main thing for me is finding time... lol I believe with the bigger players starting to come in someone might send us something. Acer's and HP's new HMD is coming out soon. They are using a lower display 1400x1400 with a 95 degree FOV, and can be used with a low end graphics card.

I hope @W1zzard is not biased against VR. From his track record(at least one of his previous poll postings) he is not too keen on VR/AR technology.

 

[Mindweaver]

I hope @W1zzard is not biased against VR. From his track record(at least one of his previous poll postings) he is not too keen on VR/AR technology.

I don't think @W1zzard is against VR. You have to remember a lot of us were betting on VR in the 90's and it flopped. A lot of people got their hopes up for nothing. I was one of them. One good thing is that the dk1 made it affordable coming in at $300 bucks, but it wasn't realistic to think that the price wasn't going to go up for consumer level VR. I think more people will start coming around when more content with a lower entry price. I don't blame anyone for not believing in VR will take off, but I do hope to change their minds by spreading the word. So, let's try to think more positive and help spread the word.

 

[dorsetknob]

You have to remember a lot of us were betting on VR in the 90's and it flopped. A lot of people got their hopes up for nothing. I was one of them

Descent bought it played it in 2d wished the hell you could buy the 3d kit for it in the UK
just was not available Very disappointed because if it was available would have bought the kit for it then

 

[xkm1948]

I don't think @W1zzard is against VR. You have to remember a lot of us were betting on VR in the 90's and it flopped. A lot of people got their hopes up for nothing. I was one of them. One good thing is that the dk1 made it affordable coming in at $300 bucks, but it wasn't realistic to think that the price wasn't going to go up for consumer level VR. I think more people will start coming around when more content with a lower entry price. I don't blame anyone for not believing in VR will take off, but I do hope to change their minds by spreading the word. So, let's try to think more positive and help spread the word.

I do remember seeing those on computer chronicles back during the early 90s. I was just a poor young lad who can't even afford a good Pentium. Too bad the computation power was just not there to back it up.

On the other hand, the rise of VR for the past 2~3 years actually has to thank the smartphone industry. With smartphones as something EVERYONE can own and use, the advancement of miniaturized sensor and display finally make it possible to have good immersion.

VR will stay around this time though. It is simply a more efficient machine-human interface. The next step will be direct neural wiring. We are not that far now. Mapping of human brain to individual neurons is close to finish and the entire technology industry will be jumping on that right away. Facebook/ Google/MS, they are all gearing towards that.

 

[Mindweaver]

Half-Live 2: VR has been greenlite! This should be awesome!

 

[Mindweaver]

Big day for AR and VR. Google just announced a new standalone daydream headset at Google: IO! The new standalone hmd's will be made by HTC Vive and Lenovo! They both will have inside out tracking. Also, the Samsung S8 and S8 Plus will get an update this summer to enable Google Daydream. This will allow you to have Gear VR and Google's Daydream headset. Watch the video below they also have good information about AR project Tango at the end.

Google: IO - AR and VR

 

[dorsetknob]

yawn vid is taking to long to load
Sorry vid is running so far 5 min of we will begin Shortly this is BOORING
Some one tag me when the vid actualy plays please

 

[Mindweaver]

yawn vid is taking to long to load
Sorry vid is running so far 5 min of we will begin Shortly this is BOORING
Some one tag me when the vid actualy plays please

Really? That's odd it's working fine for me. I even have it starting at the VR AR section, because the first part is very boring.

 

[dorsetknob]

vid played for 5+min showing same animation and text
this is all i get

EDIT YE GODS 17 min of the above before the Actual presentation Starts " Fail Google"
2nd edit when does the booring part end and the vr part begin ?? please