Virtual Reality

TV, computer and handphone allows watch movie, chatting, video conferencing, play games. However it is different form natural human sensing.

VR technology bring us closer to our perception. Seeing ,hearing and partial touching experience in a virtual world are possible. At this stage of VR technology it still has a long road to reach our reality. But it is a good start.

Brief history of VR headset development

• In 2014, Google started to introduce Google cardboard and some App to allow viewing of 3D photo and movie.
  • The device has 3 degrees of freedom. It means you can rotate up,down, left, right to see 360 degree scene.

• In 2016, Oculus and HTC started to released a first generation of VR headset to general public.
  • •HTC Vive  and Oculus rift have position trackers. Which allows 6 six degrees of freedom, it means you can walk in Virtual space. The trackers are external trackers which act like  radar station to track headset and controller location.
  • For most of us, it is about gaming, experiencing 3D scene (like roller coaster and horror movie) in a enclosed VR environment separated from real world.
  • VR headset need to link to PC with powerful graphic card
  • For some people, it is fun. But for other, we may suffer from motion sickness.
  • Headset resolution was not high. FOV is around 100 degree, the feeling likes looking through binocular.
  • Screen door effect make you feel a layer of silk is blocking the view.

• In Mid of 2018, Oculus introduced Oculus go which integrated headphone hardware and display.
  • This is a standalone headset without PC •It need external sensors for position checking
  • Microsoft use MR headset with 2 front camera for environment sensing which does not need external sensors. This is called inside out tracking. However tracking is a bit less effective and have blind sport but it is still good enough.
  • It is less powerful but good for watching media and game with less demanding graphic power.

• 2019 – 2020 is the year when 2^nd generate Headset
  • Pimax 8K x Higher resolution to 4K per eye and FOV up to 170 degree
  • Other headsets like Oculus rift S, Valve Index, HP reverb G2 and vive have improved in resolution.
  • Screen effect is reduced but still detectable
  • Standalone headsets are also evolved like Oculus quest and other China brand like PICO 4k.

• VR without building 3D model which use real world image
  • Watch Movie and 3D media (3D photo, 3D 180 or 360 degree video) for entertainment
  • Introduce product in 3D. E.g. selling  house and properties.
  • Scene viewing like Google earth and street view. It allows me to travel of most of the world in VR. This is one key reason I brought a VR headset •
  • Virtual Museum. Virtual Tour

• VR application using computer 3D model
  • Game
  • Engineering design (Architecture, interior design, Car, Mechanism simulation,..)
  • Training (Medical, Army, Service, psychology,  …)
  • Digital twin (merging real world and virtual world application)
  • VR social media and communication (with 3D  avatars)

Learning VR Technology

VR Tour example