Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is a "next step" after Augmented Reality.
VIRTUAL REALITY
Virtual Reality (VR) uses glasses or goggles that fit over the eyes, usually held on with straps around the head. Most VR devices accommodate 4" to 6" smartphones, although a few are designed to accept a 7" tablet screen. VR apps may require a motion sensor in the phone and some apps need a magnetic sensor - in both cases to operate controls within the app - which demand fairly current smartphones. When purchasing the headset, There are 9 features to be considered, other than price. Some of these features may impact price.
- Construction materials - The early Google Cardboard sets were indeed made of cardboard. Although they were not very durable and certainly not form fitting for light control, they were inexpensive - which may have been critical in earning a "hearing" for VR. Earlier VR headsets were dedicated systems tethered to a computer system and very expensive, so Google Cardboard put VR "on the radar" when otherwise it was far too esoteric and expensive. Most headsets now are made of plastic that is far sturdier and more form fitting.
- Phone compartment - Early Google Carboard phone compartments were open at each end, lending a fear factor (largely unwarranted) that one's expensive smartphone would fall out of this cardboard "thing." Most headsets (not all) have far more secure looking phone compartments. Those more secure phone compartments lead to 2 other concerns that some headset manufacturers want to address:
- Ventilation - There should be some ventilation of the phone compartment so the phone does not get too hot.
- Clear front panel - If a case is transparent in the front, or at least where the phone's camera is located, the VR headset could be used with some AR apps.
- Magnetic button - Google Expeditions, apps which started much of the current discussion in schools, require a magnetic button to control the app. The early Google Cardboard has such a button, but most more current headsets do not. Even Google's newer Daydream View does not have it.
- Remote control - Some headsets come with, or are compatible with, an accompanying remote control to help control the app on the phone in the case in the viewer. The remote control "speaks" to the phone, not the headset, but the headset may permit easier wireless access in the way the phone compartment is constructed. In a few cases the controller is hardwired to the headset.
- Phone distance adjustment - Some cases allow the phone to move closer to, or further away, from one's eyes, either by different "grooves" in which the phone can be places or by a dynamic dial or slider of some sort. This appears to help fit the different sizes of phone into the proper viewing distance for that size phone to fill the "screen." Others seem to accomplish this idea with a "mask" device inserted into the headset. Still others are not concerned with this adjustment feature.
- Interpupillary Adjustment - Most headsets allow an adjustment for "interpupillary" distance, or the distance between the pupils of the eyes from one person to the next.
- Focal Adjustment - Many headsets allow for an adjustment of the lenses slightly forward or back to address visual issues that glasses wearers may have. Occasionally this is a dynamic dial or slider, more often each leans has a manual adjustment by turning the lens when the headset is off.
- Accommodates Glasses - A very few headsets proclaim the ability to accommodate prescription glasses to be worn while using the headset.
- Sound - The higher end headsets incorporate sound into the headset, while more allow access to the phone jack. Some games may require a separate headset with both earbuds (or headphones) and a microphone.
Here are some apps/movies to try: Teacher guided, 360o, 3D, and Interactive
360o Panoramas
360 Video Channel - YouTube (Android)
- Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Egypt - click on Google Cardboard in lower right for 3D
- Victoria Falls - The Canyons Below
- Floating Over Oz with Glinda
- Lighting Up the Sky Across the Globe
- Grinding the Sword of Altair
- Tour Ireland in Immersive Virtual Reality
- Dubai in 360 - On top of the World
- 360 in the Cyphe | Round One
- DroneBoarding in 360
- Macchu Picchu Exploring 360 Video
- 360 Antarctica - Journey through the Ice
- People with a Fear of Heights Ride a Hot Air Balloon
ATIS - A Time in Space (Android)
Cosmic Roller Coaster (Android)
(Courtyard) Cardboard VR (Android)
Tokyo VR (Android)
Seaworld VR2 (Android)
VR Cave Flythough (Android)
Albatross 3D VR - Apparently a tour of Israel (Android)
Google Cardboard VR Roller Coaster - Rural (Android)
Ocean Predators 3D (Android)
VR Roller Coaster (Urban) - #1 and #2 (Android)
Inception VR (iOS) - various options, click on Google Cardboard in lower right
Cedar Point VR (Android, iOS)
Parasailing (iOS)
VR Hungry Sharks (iOS) - click on Google Cardboard in lower rightInteractive
InMind VR (Android, iOS) - Visual pointer
Apollo 15 VR (Android) - Visual pointer
Village for Google (Android) - Magnetic button
Space Explorer (Android) - Visual orientation
Wingsuit VR (Android) - Visual orientation - game
Tuscany Dive (Android) - Visual orientation
Google Expeditions (Android, iOS) - Teacher Guide driven
- Human Anatomy - Respiratory System
- World War II
- American Museum of Natural History
- Aurora Borealis
- TV Studio and Sets
- The Anne Spencer House
- Career Expedition: Product Engineer
- The TeePee
- Jiuzhaigen National Park
- The Heart
- Hydrogen Burning
- Country Music Hall of Fame