Photo Source : https://www.oculusvr.com/order/
You may have heard that Mark Zuckerberg recently bought a company that manufactures headset for Virtual Reality - Oculus Rift:
http://time.com/39577/facebook-oculus-vr-inside-story/
If you have not heard of this product, please view a short presentation of the latest version:
Here you can find more details:
http://www.oculusvr.com/dk2/
A story that is behind this sounds like a movie. The originator of the product - Palmer Luckey at the age of 15 became interested in Virtual Reality and started to build own prototypes. Soon after, he met John Carmack - the guru of 3D games and so it all began. The project constructed so far at home has become one of the biggest comeback stories in the history of technology. Now Palmer Luckey at the age of 21 is a billionaire, just two years since the founding of his company:
http://techcrunch.com/2014/03/26/a-brief-history-of-oculus/
It seems that the coming years will be marked by Virtual and Augmented Reality. On the market there are more and more players developing these technologies - for example Sony Morpheus project:
http://www.engadget.com/2014/03/19/project-morpheus-hands-on/
or Meta Space Glasses:
https://www.spaceglasses.com/
Our world is becoming less and less real ...
A few questions for you:
Why are the Oculus glasses have become such a success?
Do you think that the Oculus will really revolutionize the entertainment market?
Why Facebook bought this technology and how it will be used?
What are the best uses of Virtual Reality technology in your opinion?
What is the future of Virtual Reality?
Do we really need all this?
And Happy Easter for everyone!
To me the key technical parameter of such VR glasses is field of view coverage. The lesser systems only display a rectangular area in front of your eyes at a distance. For true immersion you need peripheral vision as well. The Oculus Rift has a 100 degree field of view and claims this is enough to stretch even beyond peripheral vision. While this is good, we're still far away from the almost 180 degree horizontal field of view that our eyes are capable of. So, I'm confused how this is possible (but it might explain some of the reasons behind the "success" of this product - marketing success)? After reading more user experiences, it seems there are currently other more important limiting factors to this technology: latency, frame rates, ghosting and positional tracking.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, I expect this technology to be improved on and really take off in the near future. I'm not sure how Facebook ties into this plan (other than providing development funds).
For now, the main use case that should drive the adoption rate is games. After that, when it becomes commonplace and affordable, maybe the next step will be augmented reality? I'm excited to see where it goes.
I managed to test the first version of Oculus for few hours playing Half-Life 2 game (we have 3 devices in the Department of Multimedia). I have to admit that in my opinion even this version is already much better than glasses that I remember from the 90s. Impression of 3 dimensional space gives absolutely awesome feeling of being inside the game. I wanted do touch everything and I have spent a lot of time to carefully observe every detail of 3D objects around me. On the other hand I don't like effect of enlarged pixels caused by glass inside the device. Well, and after playing for long time I felt slightly dizzy but not so bad as in previous cases. I can't wait to test the latest version!
DeleteSounds fun. Was the game fully playable or did you only want to see what the 3D world looked like?
DeleteI guess you still used a keyboard or maybe a gamepad? Do you have to aim your weapon by turning your head (because in real life you'd use hands and eye movements as well).
In my opinion it's fully playable and I completed some levels of the game. I'm still using keyboard and mouse. You use mouse for quick changing direction of your movements and aiming. When you walk slowly you can change direction by head movements but it's not so comfotable.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteMati when you finish testes new version give me info what are you feelings about that:)
DeleteI can bring previous version on our English lesson at the end of the semester ;)
DeleteGreat thank you:)
DeleteI'm still not able to understand why these glasses so successful. I had the opportunity to rent these glasses from PJWSTK for a week to test in my home. The first impression despite bad resolution was like "wow, cool" but after couple hours appeared headache (it is not true that it from the weight of the glasses - they are not heavy). Therefore I made another step in testing - brought this glasses to work. People initially were very excited, but after a few minutes (not hours) delight subsided, there were headaches, some had problems with the sense of balance and one person threw up. After this test, I came to the conclusion that current form of this glasses is unacceptable, this can't cause pain after long time of use. As for the future of this glasses? It still a long work ahead, but I'll keep my fingers crossed because if something change in the future maybe I will buy;)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that a lot of people to whom I presented this device didn't feel well even after few seconds, but I guess I'm immune to it. Only after 2 hours of continuous play I began to notice that something is wrong. My desire to play was so great that apparently my brain accepted everything ;). Or maybe it's a matter of how much time you spent in the 3D games in your life, it's hard to say. According to presented video they corrected a lot of issues which users discovered and I hope it's much more comfortable than before.
DeleteI think that it is only matter of time when they improve that glasses and after that problem with bad feeling will be solve or maybe it's just a matter of habit to this device.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI hope so. Of course Development Kit 2 is a still test (not commercial) version. I'm waiting for the final version.
DeleteI think that this is a great gadget especially for computer games. In my view, it is great gadget for the players and in my opinion it is something that will rise computer games to the next level. It will be grate to play games where "you are in the middle of the game." I think Facebook bought this company because it is aware of the potential of this device, and it is known that computer gaming market is now worth about millions of dollars or even billions of dollars so this is a great investment if they manage to solve all current problems and they will make that the player who is using those glasses will not felt essential difference.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that there is any chance to use such glasses (maybe not the current generation, but a future mostly improved :-)) in training of firemen or even soldiers (simulation some battle fields)?
DeleteI do not know why Oculus sunglasses have become so successful because I have never used their. I have very little experience in the technology of Virtual Reality so because of this express an opinion on this issue is a difficult for me.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Oculus sunglasses are the leading technology in this area, I have not knowledge that can be used for comparison with something else.
I do not know, I have never used Facebook before. I do not the need to use this tool.
According to me, the best use of Virtual Reality technology is medicine and travel in space.
I think that the future of Virtual Reality technology is quite promising.
In my opinion so much that we do not need anything, but maybe we can use this technology in order to slightly improve our lives.
One correction - Oculus device is not sunglasses but maybe in future they will make such version ;)
DeleteReally, reading articles and watching the pictures I was convinced that this is also protection against excessive sun radiation ;)
ReplyDeleteIn opposite to some classmates I have never used the showed (or even similar) gadget. Thus my knowledge is taken only from presentations and presented articles.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Oculus glasses must have become a hit because people need more real feelings during being in a virtual world. The same is for game wheelers, Kinect, gloves and other unknown for me gadgets.
I suppose that glasses will revolutionize the entertainment market because it seems to fit to users’ needs. I am not sure if they will not have a shape of helmet instead of something on a strap, I am saying about used technology.
I think that Facebook bought this technology because it seems to be profitable in the future. Almost everyone wants to earn more :-).
The best uses of virtual reality seem me to be that used in training real behaviors (plane or spaceship simulators etc).
I suppose that virtual reality has a bright future because our world becomes more and more virtual.
I think that people need such gadgets because even entertainment is a necessary part of our life.
Just like Grzegorz above, I have no real life experience with the Oculus, so I'm basing my opinion on article itself and various 'hearsay'. While I'm sure some form of virtual reality technology will eventually revolutionize the market, I feel it's much too early for that. Even something as simple as 3D television has its issues and can cause heavy discomfort in its users, which can be pretty extreme in some cases. With entire "virtual reality" concept, these problems become much worse - it was already mentioned in one of the comments, with someone throwing up after use.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, there are people who would ignore various health concerns just to have a new gadgets, but this is not something that can be ignored if these products are to become mainstream. The "success" is highly relative in my opinion, more reliant on this being new shiny piece of technology that can be used to impress your friends, rather than something with practical use.
I can definitely see this technology being useful in simulation, be it military or civilian. These already take care of some physical stimuli, so delivering realistic 3D visuals would let them take that final push toward become the ultimate training applications. Perhaps the military already has "real" Oculus without most of the drawbacks that plague the normal version, we'll never really know.
I suppose Facebook bought it in order to future proof themselves. As it is now, I'm not sure it would be very useful to them, but once it becomes more mainstream and practical, it could serve to make people's online "life" be even more real. Do we "need" this? Not really, but then again we didn't "need" many things and were perfectly fine living in caves and hunting wild animals for food.
I must say that the Oculus project is an initiative that I am quite interested in. When I've heard about Facebook having acquired it I had mixed feelings. On one side it's obvious that the Oculus itself can be a much better device (as the lack of money needed for research is no longer a problem) but at the same time I was worried about the direction in which the future development might go. I initially thought of Oculus as a VR gaming device that might lead to a completely different (and better) gaming experience and I highly doubt that Facebook would buy this technology without having plans for it (and I believe that they are not even remotely connected with computer games as I cannot imagine this big company making steps in such a direction).
ReplyDeleteSo all in all, I plan on following the future of this device and I will certainly have a look at the reviews as soon as it is in sale. I would even consider buying such a device if it would deliver the promises made by its designers.
I really don't know what to say - I think the appearance of such gadgets is
ReplyDeletesimply unavoidable.
Marcin showed me occulus some time ago but I got sickness quickly. It didn’t gave me to experience this technology with pleasure.... Therefore I think such technology is for selected group of people – not for the mass of game players. I would never expect flooding the game market with such devices. I think getting a sickness by most of people after using it is not to overcome easly and in the near future (except taking a small pills that prevent you to feel bad – but .... its a kind of a shortcut which shouldn't be taken into consideration) . So this is the bottleneck which might disturb to popularize this technology in vast range.
ReplyDeleteIn the other hand, when you can use them it must be big fun. But I am wondering what about the sound? Even if you feel like beeing inside 3D environment, the sound is still 2D. It is required to have 5.1 surrond sound system to fully experience the game.
Why are the Oculus glasses have become such a success?
ReplyDeleteAverage player does not have (or at least did not know that have) this kind of capability to experience virtual reality so far for such a reasonable price and this is in my opinion reason why Oculus glasses have become such a success.
Do you think that the Oculus will really revolutionize the entertainment market?
I do not know if it will be all entertainment market but I believe that for gaming market it will be revolutionary
Why Facebook bought this technology and how it will be used?
Because Facebook is a company that has more money than the true value and seeks to invest in other projects that have the potential to gain a technological value. Projects like Oculus allows company to create some innovative technologies and solutions and then part of them can be patented and be the true value of the company. FB does not have this type of value. It is only brand and money. Companies such as Zynga games show that brand and a lot of money is not enough to stay on the market.
What are the best uses of Virtual Reality technology in your opinion?
Games.
What is the future of Virtual Reality?
People want to escape from reality so Virtual Reality will grow.
Do we really need all this?
No. But why not have it even if it you do not really need id. Is a spirit of entertainment.
Thank you for bringing this subject he is very interesting and for me this is something new. My interest in computer games ended long ago. Do not constantly follow the market news related games and gadgets needed for the games.
ReplyDeleteUsing the games I had available to monitor and joystick. Now this situation is for me totally changed. According to me it is a really great solution we can look and see reality in a different situation.In my opinion glasses bring
user in a very interesting state. To understand why Facebook bought out company will take time. I think that facebook will help in selling hardware, will help it promote and help determine the right direction
in the development of glasses. I think that it will be better than 3D. And certainly this is not the latest invention in the field of science. Let's wait a few years and glasses Oculus it will be history. I think that a little time will pass before the person will test those glasses - price during the premiere of the amount of $ 300.
Using oculus you can take control over physical things - not only the games. Take a look at this video where oculus was used to control drone robot. There are many similar projects that descriptions you will find in the Internet. Here is one example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldJhsTxhNmg
ReplyDeleteWhy are the Oculus glasses have become such a success?
ReplyDeleteYou need to wear Oculus glasses on their head and immerse yourself in a different reality. It's really cool technology.
Do you think that the Oculus will really revolutionize the entertainment market?
I think that OCULUS will be very great success, because it comes from a real passion and not the willingness, to earn large sums of money.
Why Facebook bought this technology and how it will be used?
Facebook is likely to create a new platform for social media to meet in a virtual space in a fully interactive. It will be a big hit.
What are the best uses of Virtual Reality technology in your opinion?
Virtual reality is best to use to perform the difficult and dangerous work.
What is the future of Virtual Reality?
I think that virtual reality will dominate the twenty-first century entertainment.
Do we really need all this?
I do not know if I needed a jet of this type of entertainment.