Oculus announced a lot of VR-related information at the Connect conference held last week. Its research department showed a brand new integrated headline; the parent company Facebook showed some new social features; Oculus lowered the minimum specifications of Rift's head display, and the new algorithm cut the PC cost by several hundred dollars (but still needs A lot of input). Then, Oculus chief scientist Michael Abrash detailed the function of the 2021 VR head.
But we still have a lot of questions about the Oculus vision. I believe many people in the VR industry want to know. For example: How does Rift's dual camera motion tracking setup compare to the final "room scale" experience? If there is a wireless integration heads, why do we still need Rift? Abrash's most novel prediction: "Enhanced virtual reality" In the end, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe gave the answer.
1. Most Rift experiences (including most VR) will not be room scale
The default Oculus Touch package includes a tracking camera so that Rift has a total of two tracking cameras so that it can track 360 degrees of movement. But if you want to get a "room-scale" VR experience like the HTC Vive, you must also purchase additional cameras separately. Iribe explained the specific differences:
For the room scale, we want to make sure it covers a fairly large area. To do this, we need a total of three sensors. The 360 ​​degree we are talking about is a small space. You don't walk around in the room, but just stand in a relatively fixed place and move in a small area, but only two sensors can do this.
We do believe that many people in the VR space will use devices like the PlayStation VR.
Iribe believes that the third camera is made for "fans," or that the entire room can be used for a relatively small group of VRs.
I think most developers will design according to the forward and 360 degrees, because most of the hardware uses this kind of design, especially because Sony has already entered the game... The developer still hopes to have as many users as possible, so we do believe In the VR world there will be many people using devices like PlayStation VR... Although it (PSVR) is not comparable in performance to Rift or other connected PC VR, (for example) Vive and other platforms, but I think this is big This is good enough for some people.
I think many developers want to target all these different VR devices. Because the market is only just starting, they need to aim at all these platforms so that they can continue.
To put it more succinctly, with the third camera, what Vive can do, Rift can do it now, and Oculus thinks most people don't actually need a third camera.
2. Integrated Headset Does Not Replace PC or Mobile VR
If the performance of the integrated head is so outstanding, why do we still need to buy a more expensive Rift? The main reason is the computing power. If you have more computing power, you can make everything better: run faster and smoother; create a broader, more complex virtual world. As we said before, the performance of the current integrated head-up prototype is comparable to Gear VR.
There will always be a very large PC VR market.
I think there will always be a very big PC VR market. Every iteration is moving forward, because there is nothing to replace the plug-in GPU and CPU, or can compete with it ... On the mobile side, Gear VR can reduce the price to the range of less than one hundred US dollars, you can also pass Pre-order or purchase (Samsung) mobile phones for free. It is difficult to compete with it.
On the other hand, the integrated Oculus head price range will be between the Rift and the Gear VR. Iribe promises that the integration will be very easy to use. He said, "You don't need to connect your phone, you don't need to plug it into the computer, just put it on your head. Just make sure it has enough power."
3. Rift is still best for high-end PCs
Now cheaper computers and more laptops can drive Rift. This is due to a technology called asynchronous space warp introduced by Oculus that can basically let a computer render only 45 frames per second, but the head Can display 90 frames. But ideally, Oculus still hopes you have a well-configured computer.
I think people have a little misunderstanding. We didn't change the recommended specification... You'll tell the difference. If I give you a recommended size machine and a minimum size machine, you will find the difference between the two. The recommended specifications can bring a better experience. But now we can also run on a lower computer (VR). Although this does not look as good as (high-end computers), it still looks good. Now open the door for more hardware.
However, Iribe said he hopes Rift will be compatible with "almost all new laptops and desktops" in the next few years. Of course, these devices also need to carry modern GPUs.
4. There will probably not be a new Rift in the next few years
We are accustomed to the continuous iteration of smart phones, with small functional adjustments every year. But Iribe said Oculus Rift will not follow this rule. This is not surprising, but it is worth repeating for those who are concerned that their new arrivals will become obsolete products after arrival.
We probably won't make gradual minor updates to Rift.
We probably won't make gradual minor updates to Rift. What we have to do is to achieve the next major leap forward. We hope to bring new functions to Rift in the future... I think most of the [VR Headset] market wants to get a lot of quality content and experience. Then a few years later, the next generation of VR. This is also what we expect.
5. Mac users probably won't want to buy Rift
But one of the most popular laptops: Apple's MacBook series? Oculus's founder Palmer Rach once said that Oculus is waiting for Apple "to launch a good computer." However, Iribe believes that the integration can solve this problem.
For laptop users, especially MacBook users, I think independent devices can better serve this type of user. Given the nature of Apple users, I don't think they are likely to connect their VR headsets to laptops. They are more likely to use integrated heads-up.
6. The integrated head will make the backpack PC obsolete
Several companies on the market are developing independent wearable PCs that allow them to walk freely without wires. However, it is worth noting that this is only applicable to HTC Vive or custom tracking system, because Rift's camera must be directly inserted into the PC. In fact, Oculus is not worried about this.
When in VR, I don't want to put on a vest.
Our goal is to integrate the first display and no backpack is needed. When I was in VR, I didn't want to put on a vest. I just wanted to put on my head. There are companies on the market that are developing warehouse scale (VR), but tracking accuracy in such a large space is usually not as accurate.
The tracking from the inside out is better than the warehouse scale system in resolution and tracking performance. In addition, those warehouse-scale systems can be very expensive and require many different devices. Tracking from the inside out just heads-up and some kind of input device, so much more. And it will be very affordable.
7. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Do Not Work Together (Temporarily)
For years, people (including Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg) have been predicting that there will be such a pair of glasses in the future: they can render a complete virtual world, and they can switch to another function to superimpose virtual images on the actual scene. in. But Iribe does not seem to think so. He said "VR and AR will continue to be divided into two different categories." As Abrash detailed in his speech, he said that we are more likely to have "enhanced virtual reality" instead of surreal holograms: reconstructing the real world in VR and then adding or changing some of them.
VR and AR will continue to be divided into two different categories.
It's possible to enhance virtual reality and put on this Rift. After this pair of VR glasses, you can see the real world, but this world is rendered in 3D. Our appearance is not the same as in real life. We will look like 3D characters. We will look good, but not at this resolution.
The biggest problem for Iribe is that creating a single object that fits the real world (as promised by the augmented reality company Magic Leap) is more difficult than creating a complete environment under your control.
In AR, you will soon know if something is a real object, although I believe it will look good. I think that regardless of HoloLens or other products, these objects can look good, but you can still find that this is not a real object.