Digital technologies/Virtual reality/Virtual reality- Beginner

Virtual Reality (VR) is a system available at the Richard L'Abbe Makerspace which immerses users in virtual 360 environments. These environments can be in the form of 360 videos, 3D application projects (made in Unity or Unreal), or augmented reality (AR).

The Makerspace currently possesses two major VR systems: the Oculus Rift DK2 and the HTC Vive. Other VR and AR systems available include the Google Cardboard and Xbox Kinect.

What is Virtual Reality (VR)?

Virtual Reality is a computer generated 3-dimensional simulation of a game or environment. The simulation is typically run on a device such as a computer, game console or smartphone, and the information is then sent to a VR headset.

Available Systems in Makerspace

Oculus Rift DevKit 2

Oculus Rift DevKit2

The Oculus Rift system is a VR head-mounted display (HMD) system that is owned by Facebook Inc. The Development Kit 2 was introduced in 2014 and allowed developers to begin creating applications prior to the official release of the Oculus Rift system. The DevKit2 only supports positional tracking in the form of head movement within a small radius, and does not provide controllers or remotes to allow users to interact with their environments.

The headset has a 980x1080 (per eye) resolution, provided by a modified Samsung Galaxy Note 3 acting as it's screen.

HTC Vive

HTC Vive

The HTC Vive is a full room-tracking VR system that includes one HMD, two handheld controllers, and two (or more) lighthouse base stations to track user positional data. The system was released in 2016 and became a very popular system due its robustness and immersive experience. The system was developed by HTC and Valve Corporation, and thus a developer package was released by Valve coined "SteamVR" to allow developers to create applications on the headset using the Unity game engine.

The headset has a 1080x1200 (per eye) resolution, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and a 110 degree nominal field of view. The headset also supports users wearing non-bulky glasses while playing by adjusting the headstrap, focal distance, and eye distance.

Adjusting Headset for Usage

If you would like to adjust the headset for your personal comfort, several steps can be taken to get the best possible experience. Note: a tight fit is imperative for a non-blurry experience.

1. To adjust the head size, undo the velcro on the left and right side of the headset. Once you put the headset on, pull both straps with equal force until the fit is tight, and then fasten the velcro again.
2. To adjust the head size from the top for users with head garments or tied-up hair, undo the velcro on the top side of the headset. Once you put the headset on, pull the strap until it fits with your head size and doesn't slip off.
3. To adjust the focal distance between the lenses and screen, locate the two mount points on either side of the headset (where the straps meet the display body) and pull the two gray dials outward. Once you've done so, turn both dials simultaneously either forward or backward until the image appears clear.
4. To adjust the distance between eyes, locate the small adjustment dial on the lower-right side of the headset's display. With the headset on your head, turn the dial in either direction to adjust the distance between eyes. The exact distance modified will be shown on the HMD screen when the system is on. Adjust until image is visually clear.

Google Cardboard

Google Cardboard

The Google Cardboard is a lens display for most modern smartphone devices with built in gyroscopes. By inserting your phone into the headset and enabling VR mode, the HMD becomes a non-positional tracking 360 degree viewer that allows the viewing of 360 videos or scenarios.

Smartphone Setup for 360 YouTube Videos

In order to view 360 degree videos on the official YouTube app, follow the steps outlined below:

1. Download the official YouTube app from the Appstore (IOS), Play Store (Android), or your smartphones personal app marketplace.
2. Open the app and locate a video that is a 360 degree video.
3. In the lower right corner of the video player, tap the Google Cardboard icon. A white bar should now appear in between the video.
4. Place the phone in the cardboard and align the center of the headset with the white line on the video.
5. Press play and fasten the velcro.

Equipment and Systems

What are VR headsets?

A VR headset is a fully immersive device that is worn on your head; the device contains multiple sensors such as the gyroscope to help calibrate the movement in the simulation with your actual movement. There is a few different types of headsets:

Standalone

Standalone headsets are able to work independently of an external device such as a PC or gaming console. They have their own system that is able to power and run the simulation.

Tethered

Tethered headsets are used in collaboration with another device such as a PC or gaming console. These headsets act as the screens and sensor for the simulation however the actual image processing occurs within the external device. You are also able to get very basic VR headsets that can be used with your smartphones screen to create a virtual Environment.

Other VR Devices

Over time many various other devices have been created that allow you to interact with a VR simulation, for example, there are controllers shaped like weapons that interact with first-person combat games, additionally there are also vests that simulate sensations occurring in the simulation via vibration or temperature.

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Cited from: https://www.bhaptics.com/tactsuit

Uses for VR

VR is becoming increasingly useful for education and training, VR trainings in medicine allow students to interact with and experience various scenarios that give them a greater understanding of a subject. Additionally, VR simulations will be used to explain complex procedures and treatments to patients in order to ease their anxiety and further their knowledge of their conditions. Furthermore, overtime more companies have begun using VR to demonstrate their product in order to allow their consumers to have a better understanding of the products that they will be using.

What is Steam?

Steam is an online gaming library; it allows you to get access to and purchase various games that can be played on the PC. Many free and paid games can be found on the platform for you to use. Because using a VR headset requires the system to output the video to the headsets in a specific manner, SteamVR is used to play the VR games through your PC. The application is compatible with the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and etc.,

There are other softwares that can be used with the VR headset such as Littlestar, VRWorks, G2 Deals and etc, which software you would use is dependent on a few criteria, such as what kind of experience do you want from virtual reality, and if you would like to consume or create content.

How to Set up the Systems

Oculus Rift DevKit2

1. Go to developer.oculusvr.com
2. Click on PC SDK
3. Then download and install the runtime and SDK file for your appropriate operating system.
4. Plug the HDMI and USB into your computer and the other end into the headset.
5. Next plug the power supply into the brick and then into the wall.
6. Then plug the curved end of the sync cable into the camera’s top plug and the other end into the brick.
7. Finally plug the curved end of the micro-USB into the camera and the other end into the computer.

How to configure

1. Go to the eye icon in the taskbar and double click on it in order to open the configuration utility.
2. Ensure that the device is on, and in here you can adjust the different parameters to calibrate the screen and you are also able to create profiles for each person to aid in swapping through different configurations.
3. You are also able to edit the display mode from the Display Mode window found under tools.
4. Furthermore, you may use demo scene to test out the VR and ensure that everything is working as they should

HTC Vive

1. Set up your play area by placing the cameras in opposite corners of the play area (max distance of 5 meters)
2. Go to https://www.vive.com/ca/setup/ and download the Vive software, you will also need Steam.
3. Next mount the base stations and then attach the cameras and plug in the power cables. If the cameras are unable to see each other, use the sync cable.
4. To wire the headset, plug the power adapter into the link box and then into the wall.
5. Then you will connect the link box and PC via the USB and HDMI cable.
6. Next you will connect the wires from the headset to the orange side of the link box.
7. To set up the controllers, power them on.
8. Finally, you will set up your play area by clicking on launch steam VR, then following the instructions on the screen.

VR Game and Application Development

There are many different tools and platforms that you can use in order to develop VR games and applications. There are a few things to look into when deciding what software to use for your app. For example:

• What equipment will you be using? Oculus, HTC VIVE, Playstation etc.
• What is the purpose of the software? Will you make a game, animation, application?

Some examples of software are:

• Unity: Can make games, applications and has many online tutorials. Can make programs compatible with many different types of headsets. Click here for further information on how to develop using Unity with the HTC Vive.
• Amazon Sumerian: This application is really good for creating training simulations and doesn’t require you to have any previous programming knowledge to use it.
• Google VR for Everyone: This software has multiple different tools that can be used on multiple different platforms such as Unity, Unreal, Android etc.
• Unreal Engine 4: This platform allows you to create various different applications and allows you to access the C++ and python of the application as well.
• CryEngine: can create various different applications that can be used with the Oculus, PlayStation and etc.
• Blender: this application is great for creating characters and 3D videos for a VR, an experienced VR character is able to further manipulate the application via Python scripts.

Tutorials on VR Development

• Creating Virtual Reality Applications
• Installing Unity
• Creating Unity Assets with SOLIDWORKS

Other resources

• Large 3D Terrain Generator
• Unity Game Engine