MakerSpace

What is VR?

VR (virtual reality) transports people to different worlds without even leaving their homes. Right now we have the technology to simulate sight and the ability to interact in the world we create with a limited amount of usage by our hands. Engineers are making the VR experiences more interactive and realistic.

Why VR?

This technology is developing fast, now more than ever. It's not only a new way to play games, but also a great learning tool. Students can be teleported back in time and experience what it was like to live in the past. They could also shrink down to get into a living human cell and learn about the inner workings of it. People can also take virtual trips see the White House, national parks, and old ruins on other continents. You can even go to Mars and explore it's surface.

VR also offers real world training without the need for risk. Doctors can use this to explore the human anatomy without putting a patient at risk. Machinist can learn how to use tools properly without the fear of losing fingers by accidentaly putting your hand somewhere it shouldn't be. 

For those people who like details and specifications of hardware and things, here is a glimpse of what our setups can do on paper.

Oculus Go

The Oculus Go is a simple set up. It is oculus' attempts at brining VR into the hands of everyone. In this set up is just a wireless headset and a controller. 

This product allows a nice introduction into the world of VR and what it has to offer. It allows people to be more mobile and not be tied down with cables or having a powerful computer. It is able to do this because it is based on cell phone hardware. 

The Oculus Go set up will be available to anyone who wants to try it as long as the maker space is available. Just speak to a librarian and they will help you set up this set up. 

HTC Pro Vive

The HTC Pro Vive is a more advanced VR set up. This is the best way to experience what current VR has to offer.

Most people who have experienced VR, have had some problems with disorientation, dizziness, and motion sickness. This is due to the image not changing fast enough or the tracking not being fast enough so there is a delay in these inputs making it your brain says there is something wrong. With higher refresh rates in the images and more responsive and reactive motion controls, stop these problems are minimized or eliminated entirely because the advance in technology.  This allows for people to delay the symptoms for 20 to 30 minutes to not having any symptoms at all. 

With these problems, the VR set up needs more power. It needs more hardware. The headset will need a computer to process and the programs. It also needs two outside sensors in order to track the person inside the play space. This kind of set up is one of the most common set ups in people's homes.