The Origins of Virtual Reality: A Journey Through Time
As we sit here with our Oculus Rift headsets on, it's hard to imagine how far virtual reality (VR) has come. But have you ever stopped to think about where VR actually started? The answer lies in the 1950s, when people first began experimenting with VR experiences. It was a time of great creativity, and researchers were eager to explore new ways to interact with technology.
As we fast forward to the 1990s, Nintendo launched the Virtual Boy, a headset that promised to revolutionize gaming. Unfortunately, it spectacularly crashed and burned. Despite its failure, the Virtual Boy laid the groundwork for future VR headsets. It used a pair of single-color displays and two mirrors to create a 3D effect, but being limited by 1995 technology meant that this was not a true VR experience.
The Next Generation: Oculus Rift
Fast forward to 2011, when the first prototype for the Oculus Rift was completed. The team behind the project used duct tape and other makeshift materials to get their vision off the ground. What made this special was that for the first time, a head-mounted display was paired with motion tracking, allowing users to move their heads in real life and translate it into the game. This was a major breakthrough, as it enabled players to fully immerse themselves in virtual environments.
One of the most memorable experiences from this era was trying out an early prototype of the Rift, followed by EVE: Valkyrie. The headset transported the player into a cockpit of a spaceship, with a giant dog fight unfolding in the middle of space. It was an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impression on the creator.
Improvements Over Time
Fast forward to 2017, and VR as a whole has seen significant improvements. Take the Oculus Rift for example. The headset now boasts high-resolution displays (1080 by 1200 per eye), a faster 90-hertz refresh rate, and OLED technology that eliminates earlier issues with smoothness and persistence. The addition of infrared tracking dots paired with the sensor in the headset allows for full 3D tracking of the user's head, providing a much more detailed experience.
Another key development is the rise of console-based VR headsets like PlayStation VR. However, Oculus has chosen to focus on PC-powered headsets, which offer several advantages. Most notably, they can handle vast amounts of graphics horsepower, pushing not only visuals but also performance stability. This allows for a smoother and more immersive experience.
The Importance of Controllers
The Oculus Rift controllers are another crucial aspect of the VR experience. The standard Xbox One gamepad is an option for some games, but the Oculus touch controllers truly stand out. They offer motion tracking and can fully positionally track the user's hands, allowing for natural interactions with virtual objects. This was particularly impressive in games like The Climb, where hand-tracking combined with buttons creates a realistic climbing experience.
Immersive Experience
The key to VR is immersion. When you pair the Rift with the touch controllers, it truly gives you an immersive experience. You can see your hands mirrored exactly in the game, and actions feel incredibly realistic. Moving around the environment feels natural, as if you're actually there. The ability to interact with virtual objects also opens up new possibilities for gameplay.
A Real-World Application
One of the most impressive applications of VR is its practicality. For example, imagine being able to copy resumes onto a digital document, drop it on the copier machine, and brew yourself some coffee without having to lift a finger. The Oculus Rift lets you do just that, seamlessly integrating VR into everyday life.
The Power of VR
As we look back at where VR has come from, it's clear that this technology has only scratched the surface. Consumer headsets like the Rift were unheard of just eight years ago, and this year alone they've become more accessible than ever. If you haven't experienced virtual reality yet, you absolutely owe it to yourself to give it a try.
Let's hear your thoughts about VR! Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below, and I'll catch you in the next one.
WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- You don't think they're going tonotice my super cool Band-Aid, right?Hey guys, this is Austin.This is the Oculus Rift, and hugeshout out to Oculus forsponsoring this video.It is mostly thanks to theRift, the VR even exists today.But what is virtual reality?People have been experimenting withVR experiences dating all the wayback to the 50s, where things were,let's just say, a little morecreative than they are today.Now you can fast forward to the 90swhere Nintendo launched the Virtual Boy.This wonderful headset,which spectacularlycrashed and burned.But, how does VR actually work?As Core virtual realityis all about givingyou the most immersiveexperience possible.So think the holodeck from Star Trekand not the TV on your wall.Now, that TV is a goodexample of what VR just isn't.Sure, with both of them you can watchvideo and play games,but with a TV, you're limitedby the size of that panel.Where as with virtual reality,no matter where you look,as long as you have that headset on,you are completely immersed.The Virtual Boy achieved thiswith some pretty basic tech.It uses a pair of single color displays,and two mirrors to flip backand forth incredibly fast,to give you a decent 3D effect.But, being limited by1995 technology meantthat this was not a true VR experience.Back in 2011, the first prototypefor the Rift was completed,duct tape and all.Now, what made this special,was that for the first time,a head-mounted display was paired withnot only a 90 degree field of viewthat was wide enough to look convincing,but also motion tracking, to allow you tomove your head in real lifeand translate it into the game.You know, like in reallife when I move my headleft and right, the world stays with me.I remember back in 2013,where I first got to trynot only an early prototype of the Rift,but also of EVE: Valkyrie.I put the headset on,and I was transportedinto a cockpit of a spaceship,and a giant dog fightin the middle of space.It was seriously one of the impressivetech moments I have ever seen.Right afterwards, I walkedout of the demo room,pulled my phone out, and pre-orderedmy own Oculus dev kit.Don't get me wrong though, at this point,the tech was still very early.One of the biggest issueswith the first dev kitwas its fairly lowresolution of 1280 by 800.It was enough to get the idea across,but the actual level of detail wasreally low at this point.Fast forward to 2017, and VR as a wholehas seen some huge improvements.So take the Rift, for example.Now, it has a pair ofsuper high resolution1080 by 1200 displays. One per eye.We have a faster 90 hertz refresh rate,paired with being based on OLED,which eliminates a lotof the earlier issueswith smoothness andpersistence, which is important.When the goal is total immersion,even a little stutterin a game can cause youto be totally rippedout of the experience.There is a lot more tech inside, though.The Rift headset is filledwith infrared tracking dots,which paired with thesensor that it comes with,is able to track yourhead in full 3D spacewith a lot more detailthan the original dev kit.Well there are some headsets,like PlayStation VR,which take advantage of a console,or things like Gear VR which actually usea mobile device, such as your smartphone,to be able to power them.With the Oculus Rift, youare using a PC to power it.There are several advantages here.Most notably, you can have a ton ofgraphics horsepower topush not only the graphics,but also to keep that performance stable.All of this tech is great,but the controllers are also important.Now, the Oculus does support the standardXbox One game pad, whichis fine for some games,but what really stands out,are the Oculus touch controllers.You can think of these as anevolution of the original Wii remote.Sure, they do have motion tracking,but what's more impressive,is the fact thatthese will fully positionally trackyour hands, which willactually allow you toput your hands inside the games.This is important.A lot of games, such as The Climb,will use hand trackingin combination with thebuttons to simulateactually climbing a cliff.It's a neat effect, and can do a lotto add to the immersion.And immersion really is the key tomaking sure the VR feels right.So, you might be okay with a littleglitch or stutter when you'replaying on a PC monitor,but when it comes toVR, you're essentiallytricking your brain into thinkingthat the game world is real.There's essentially no margin for error.One of my favorite VRgames is Job Simulator.This is a great example of howthe touch controllers work.So, you can see that my handsare completely one to one in the game.If I reach over andpick up this cartridge,drop it in, it feels very realistic.When you pair the Riftwith the touch controllers,it really does give youan immersive experience.So, when I look aroundthis office building,it feels like I'm actually here.I can walk around. I can move my head.I can pick things up.And it just feels right.Plus, it lets you dosome cool stuff like say,copy some resumes, justdrop it on the copy machine,hit that, I can start brewing some coffee,start hitting buttons on my keyboard,answer the phone.I mean, this stuff is really cool.It really does feel so natural, so simple.I don't even have to think about it.I can just literally just reach over,hit something, done.Next, we have Superhot VR.So, I have to stand very still,because as I move, timewill actually start playing,and have to dodge it.Okay, here we go, and,nope, no.Get out of the way of that one.And, grab it. Grab it. Boom.Dude, this is so much fun.It is easy to forget, thatjust over eight years ago,consumer headsets like the Rift,weren't even a thing, and this reallyonly went on sale a year ago.So there is a long way to go.But, if you have notexperienced virtual reality,you absolutely owe it to yourselfto give it a try.So, what do you guys think about VR?Let me know on the comments below,and I will catch you in the next one.
