Izzet Kocak, a farmer and cattle breeder in Turkey, has decided to think outside the box to get more milk production from his cows. At first, he tried playing classical music, but when that didn’t work, virtual reality headsets came into the picture. These aren’t used for gaming, but rather green pastures and sunny skies. This is being tested on two cows, and so far, things appear to be working out well. Read more for a video and additional information.
Can a rat actually play DOOM? Not really, but researcher Viktor Toth came up with possibly the next best thing. He built a custom virtual reality rig and experimented with several rats over the span of around 6-months, seeing if they can navigate a straight hallway in DOOM. The rig itself required around four months to complete using a 3D printer, an iron, a drilling machine, screwdrivers, and a few other hand tools. Read more for a video demonstration and additional information.
The problem with current virtual reality headsets is that their display technology just isn’t crisp enough to handle the latest games, but Sony’s next-generation model solves that issue. How? It achieves a high-resolution of 4K with one eye and 8K with both eyes, thanks to OLED microdisplay technology. That’s not all, the processing time is also reduced by decreasing the amount of latency throughout the entire system using data from multiple sensors. Read more for a video and additional information.
The metaverse is taking over the world, and in the near future, we may be able to feel things inside this virtual world, thanks to haptic gloves. That’s right, as you assemble a virtual puzzle, your fingers automatically stop moving as you feel a piece within your grasp. You’ll also feel the sharp corners and the smoothness of its surface as you hold it up for closer inspection, followed by a recognizable snap as it fits into place. Read more for a video and additional information.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg teased a prototype virtual / augmented reality headset that his company is currently working on, calling it a “retina resolution” device. Some are speculating that it could be the next Oculus VR headset, since the retina resolution means that the device could potentially have a high enough pixel density that exceeds that of the human eye. Read more for another picture of a different prototype headset.
Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, Facebook introduces reverse pass-through VR. This technology basically projects a three-dimensional view of the wearer’s eyes to multiple outside viewers in a perspective-correct manner, with a prototype headset containing a world-facing light field display. Why is this even a thing? Facebook claims that this existing video (forward) pass-through technology allows more seamless interactions between people with and without headsets in social or professional contexts. Read more for another picture and additional information.
Set for release this summer is Fracked, a cel-shaded first-person shooter for PlayStation VR. This made-for-VR action adventure game seamlessly combines fast paced, 1:1 run and cover gunplay with exciting free running, skiing as well as climbing. That’s right, there’s absolutely no on-rails gameplay or cinematic cutscenes, just 1:1 action driven by the player’s controls, movements, and actions. Read more for the new gameplay trailer released at E3 2021 and additional information.
Tony Albert has always been fascinated with fighter jets, but actually becoming a pilot might have been a possibility. So, he built what could quite possibly be the most realistic virtual reality flight simulator setup yet. It consists of a Thrustmaster USB HOTAS system, CH Pro rudder pedals, a Thrustmaster MFD button panel set, and an HP Reverb G2 VR headset. Once the headset is put on, it almost feels like you’re actually in the cockpit of a plane. Read more for a short video and additional information.
Photo credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Here’s a first look at the new PlayStation 5 VR controllers, which features an “orb” shape that allows you to hold it more naturally, while still offering a high degree of freedom. It was designed with ergonomics in mind, and each VR controller (Left and Right) sports an adaptive trigger button that adds tension when pressed, similar to the DualSense controller technology. There is also going to be haptic feedback optimized for its form factor, making every sensation in the game world more impactful, textured and nuanced. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Finally, Microsoft Flight Simulator now supports your favorite virtual reality headset for PC systems. This game was built from the ground up to achieve three key goals: realism, accuracy, and authenticity of flight. Today, it has become the most immersive virtual flight experience to date that isn’t a full-sized simulator used to train pilots. This free update is compatible across a wide range of supported devices, including various Windows Mixed Reality headsets (HP Reverb G2, etc.), Oculus, Valve, and HTC headsets. Read more for two videos, including hands-on gameplay, and additional information.