VR Questions

[redpoint5]

I'm tasked with buying a gift for 4 boys, aged 8-17. I was thinking to just buy a VR setup and having them share it.

What are my VR options with the pros and cons of each option, including amount of available content? I've heard of Oculus Rift, but as I recall that is expensive (and requires a powerful computer?). Is there portable standalone VR setups?

As much as I talk about VR being the wave of the future, I've never tried it or researched it.

[ME_Andy]

Might be cheaper to get a PS4 with VR.

[freebeard]

Four of 'em?

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=palemoon&q...ages&ia=images

[redpoint5]

The Samsung Gear VR requires a Galaxy phone, apparently. That seems like the way to go since it has a controller to interact with the game, but requiring an expensive phone in addition to the VR package is a little much.

I've ordered a few of the free cardboard setups in the past, but they were never delivered. I guess I get what I pay for. Perhaps I'll construct my own box one day, but I was hoping for something more interactive.

[Xist]

I bought some plastic ones from the dollar store last year. It fits my Galaxy S6 and the LG I bought off my roommate for $20. It cost me a whole $5. This is the cheapest decent-looking one that I can find on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/GenBasic-Fold...rdboard+viewer

Surprisingly, the cardboard ones cost about $15.

I thought it was a fun gimmick, but my phone started overheating!

[freebeard]

I thought this was going to be VR-6 vs VR-8.

[redpoint5]

Turns out the kids already have a PS4, so it makes my decision for a VR solution much easier. From what I've read, there is version 1 and version 2 for PlayStation, but both are nearly identical in terms of performance. I don't actually know the difference between them, and perhaps it's only aesthetic.

I hope there is enough interesting content to keep them entertained.

Now I'm curious about VR for myself. I've already got a powerful PC, so I just need a headset, I'm guessing. What are the best options for PC at the moment?

[freebeard]

I don't know specifically, but some time back the competition was in [angle-of-view], IOW peripheral vision.

[redpoint5]

I bought a used Google Pixel XL phone for my wife so that she could give my dad her Nexus 6 (older phone). Then I found out it's compatible with the Google Daydream VR headset, which recently was on sale for $50.

I'm impressed with the immersion that can be had with a phone and earbuds. Head tracking is extremely precise, and field of view is almost full peripheral. I was playing with a chemistry app that is a lot of fun. Learning is going to be so much more engaging for kids these days. 3D movies are better quality than the best theaters can offer. Normal movies can be scaled up as desired to virtually have whatever "screen" size you want.

VR is certainly the wave of the future, and I see plenty of potential for abuse. With how engaging the experience is, eliciting emotional response is easy. One you elicit an emotional response, manipulating the audience is no problem. I envision car commercials that place you in a horrific car accident in a competitors vehicle to sell their image of a safe vehicle. Worse though, this technology will be leveraged to push irrational political agendas. We're not built to withstand the emotional pressure that this technology is capable of exerting.

[freebeard]

Learning is going to be so much more engaging for kids these days.

When I went to see Spirited Away (that was years ago) during the closing titles, there was a little girl standing up holding onto the seat back in front of her trying to stay awake. We didn't have Hayao Miyazaki when I was that age.