John Healy's Tech Blog

Tag: Virtual reality

  • VR in the house? – consumer’s FAQ by PC Guide

    One of my last technology research projects years ago at Hughes was focused on visualization [1]. Visualization, among other things, included applications using virtual reality (VR).

    Since then, as noted elsewhere, I’ve followed the topic casually for commercial, industrial and consumer uses. But I’ve not invested in any consumer gear as yet. I’ve wondered, for example, if I’d experience unpleasant side effects from wearing a headset for awhile (cf. the earlier Oculus Rift or HTC Vive and more recent models).

    Well, PC Guide’s site has a section on VR, an excellent resource and useful guide on this evolving consumer technology. If you’re already an enthusiast for immersive games, are VR games worthwhile? Are newer gadgets worth the upgrade? Does VR make sense for you and your house?

    • PC Guide > Gadgets > VR > “Beginner’s Guide To VR (Virtual Reality)” (2021)

    Their guide covers:

    • What Is VR?
    • History of VR
    • Uses of Virtual Reality
    • What You Will Need to Get into VR
    • Possible Side Effects of Using a VR Headset
    • The Future of VR

    As well as “best” buying guides for:

    • Seated VR games
    • VR apps
    • Multiplayer VR games
    • VR headsets
    • Cheap VR headsets
    • VR controllers
    • VR laptops
    • VR accessories

    As well as individual product “hands on” reviews (e.g., for the Oculus Quest 2), How To’s, and FAQs.

    Notes

    [1] System visualization is a process which uses dramatization, mockup, modeling, simulation, prototyping … More effective ways to communicate complex systems, key concepts, and wider context – early in the product or service development cycle.

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    • Mixed reality — if the price is right?

  • Mixed reality — if the price is right?

    I’ve been following this topic for a couple of years: virtual reality and mixed reality consumer gear. I have one PC which meets the requirements, but I’ve yet to make the investment in a headset. Now there are choices other than Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive if “mixed reality” is good enough. Price still can be a barrier when the value over time is fuzzy. And the technology is advancing quickly. So, this Cnet article on January 19, 2018, grabbed my interest: “Windows Mixed Reality headset prices cut in half on Amazon.”

    The big promise of Windows Mixed Reality headsets was to bring augmented and virtual reality and anything in between to people at more reasonable prices and with an easier setup than competitors. By the time they rolled out late last year, though, it was mostly just the latter that came true: Once the headsets were bundled with controllers the WMR headsets cost the same or more than the current $399 Oculus Rift bundle.

    But, there’s nothing like a steep price cut to spark some sales.

    As spotted by GameDeals on Reddit, Amazon currently has prices on Windows Mixed Reality headset and controller bundles from Acer, Dell, HP and Lenovo to around half of what they are elsewhere. Note, though, that these deals appear to only be available through third-party sellers and fulfilled by Amazon, so you’ll want to check their ratings and reviews.