VR Headsets
A VR headset uses a set of sensors and screens to display virtual worlds. These devices can range from mobile, standalone headsets to tethered hardware.
Most VR headsets feature head tracking, or 6DoF, that senses your position using gyroscopes and accelerometers. They also contain stereoscopic lenses that make the images appear three-dimensional. Some models include haptic gloves for navigating the virtual world with hand motions.
Visuals
VR headsets combine a visual display or screen, lenses, stereo sound and head/eye motion tracking sensors to create an immersive virtual experience. They are often paired with controllers that can be used to browse through content.
Some people have reported experiencing eye strain, nausea and dizziness when using a VR headset. These symptoms can be caused by the fast-paced visual stimuli that VR simulates, which cause your eyes to constantly move around and focus. This can lead to headaches, especially if the headset is worn for extended periods of time.
The close proximity of the headset display to your eyes can also cause problems, like the ‘screen door effect’ and blurred vision. Some newer headsets have reduced this issue, but it can still occur for some users.
There is currently no evidence that VR can permanently damage your eyesight, but it is recommended to take a break from it after a few hours of use to give your eyes some rest. It is also advisable to wear sunglasses when using a VR headset to prevent light sensitivity. Some startups are vr headsets working on hardware and software solutions that will address the problem of eye strain and blurred vision in VR. One such solution is an actuated varifocal display, which uses eye-tracking to precisely determine the inter-pupillary distance (IPD) of the user and adjust the focal plane of the headset accordingly.
Audio
In addition to its image quality, a VR headset’s audio plays an important role in creating immersion. Premium models feature audio channels that direct sound roughly to each ear and have software that adjusts based on head position sensors. This ensures that the sounds you hear match your position in the virtual world, increasing the realism of the experience.
Besides games, VR can be used to facilitate training and meetings, support sales, enhance travel and more. The technology is already transforming the workplace as more companies adopt it to support remote work and virtual collaboration.
A number of studies have shown that soundscapes can significantly increase the sense of presence in VR. The realism and involvement of VR experiences can also be enhanced by the reproduction of sounds that match a user’s interactions with the virtual environment, such as footsteps that increase in volume as a person moves closer to them.
Most VR headsets have some kind of input method for interacting with the virtual world, such as motion tracking or controllers. Most PC-based headsets like the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift require a gaming computer, while mobile options like Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard use a smartphone as their sensor base. Some tethered headsets feature built-in hand tracking capabilities, while others require additional handheld or voice commands to operate.
Interactions
VR headsets are typically paired with controllers that allow you to interact with the virtual world. Some headsets also support voice control. This input can help you move around a virtual space, select, drag and drop, use buttons, select text, scroll up or down, change settings, demarcate boundaries, etc.
Most headsets have head tracking technology that plots your position in a virtual space by using sensors like gyroscopes and accelerometers to track your movements. This is called six degrees of freedom (6DOF) and it allows you to look around the virtual environment in all directions. Some of the more advanced headsets even have sensors that allow you to grab and hold objects in your hands as if they were real.
Virtual reality experiences can be fun, educational and inspirational. For example, they can help people become more empathetic towards those of different races and increase their physical activity. However, some experiences can be frightening or combative and create a false sense of danger. For this reason, it is important to provide full information before participants take part in a VR experience.
As VR becomes more popular, it will be interesting to see how this affects our real-life interactions. Many people already use it to communicate, shop, learn, vr headsets travel and work. It will be interesting to see how these uses expand as the technology continues to improve and become more affordable.
Comfort
VR headsets require the user to wear a bulky device over their head for extended periods of time, so it’s important they remain comfortable. The best models feature padded straps that fit securely and distribute weight evenly, so they don’t squeeze or chafe on the head. They also offer a light form factor that helps reduce fatigue over long gaming sessions.
Built-in near-field speakers hover just next to the user’s ears, offering outstanding three-dimensional surround sound without placing any pressure on the ears. They also deliver a level of aural isolation, cutting out external noises and other distractions. They also don’t bleed audio into the surrounding room, so they can be used in public spaces without any fear of offending others.
Virtual reality headsets are designed to create a realistic three-dimensional image or environment that users can perceive as real and interact with in realistic ways. Although we aren’t yet at Matrix-like levels of immersion, the latest generation headsets, games and virtual experiences feel remarkably lifelike.
While there are many standalone headsets that plug right into a mobile phone, those without a separate screen and sensors can be less versatile than those that connect to a PC. The Meta Quest 2 is a good example, able to play hundreds of free or $39-or-less titles alongside its own exclusive apps and through Quest Link connectivity to a gaming PC with access to larger Oculus and SteamVR libraries.