Oculus Virtual Reality
 

This Christmas, Santa brought me an Oculus virtual reality 3d headset.

I'm sure it's been discussed here, but in short, it is a 3D goggle system, which can visually immerse you in a 360 degree environment. I did a ppot search and it seems to be a highly recommended for racing games, but I couldn't find a lot.

I was completely surprised, having tried one out at a thanksgiving outing, gotten some good laughs, and had pretty much forgotten about it. I hadn't asked for it. I wasn't expecting it.

HOLY S#$%! This thing is awesome!

If you haven't tried one, I highly recommend it. For me, it seems to be the step from radio to television, or, at least black and white to color tv. I can see as this becomes mainstream, this will change everything.

Since getting it, I have only watched some basic, but incredible videos. The videos have already been monetized to some degree, so I stayed with the basic options. I've only scratched the surface. I programmed the garage as a space to walk in. Suddenly, not in the garage anymore-

Now I'm on a beach in the bahamas. I grab a real beach chair, and I am sitting in my garage, but at the water's edge, lapping at my feet, right next to my garden tractor?

Jumping from helicopters in the alps, touring Notre-Dame, Climbing everest, etc. The Notre-Dame video, in particular is amazing. You are literally standing in the burnt out cathedral, interposed with pre - burnt videos of sermons, and on the streets of France walking around with people. Then you are on the side roofs of Notre Dame. You can reach out and touch the gargoyles, and see the wires for lighting rods running down their backs. You can stare through the new wooden trusswork to support the flying buttresses to prevent collapse.
I can see how people could become very addicted to this. In a couple of years, smart phone junkies will be so second rate. :)

Who's got one, and what are some things I should try out?

Thought about this for iracing but was turned off by the Facebook requirement.

LOL- Agreed.

I have a flip phone, and have been off FB for about 6 months, so my wife had to set it up using her apps/phone/account. I felt pretty silly about having her set it up, but "oh well" :) I was not too happy about the fb thing myself. This is too great a thing not to have competition of some sort in the future.

I haven't done computer car racing since about 2006- GT legends. If that is still out, with the 3D option, a new steering wheel/console might be in order. racing the 911rs and 914-6 made me want to get back into a real 911 after a long relationship with real 944's.

so is the facebook bit intrusive or is it just to start the thing and that's it?

In my experience, it hasn't been intrusive.

Start it. That's it-

I'm sure it's datamining, and I assume it's sharing my involvement with oculus in the same way FB likes to 'overconnect' people- "Hey, you are already friends with ****, why not talk to them on instant messenger" or "Hey, Bob, Carol, and 3 other friends used FB marketplace last week/ pinterest/ etc...."
:rolleyes:

But I haven't seen any of that. Once logged in, you can go to FB if you want through the program, but, the options flow more like a smart tv where you can scroll between netflix, youtube, amazon, crackle, disney, ...whatever. The FB is just a little icon among all the other options. There are options where you 'could' connect with other oculus fb using friends and play games and such, but I'm not doing that, and it doesn't force it on you.


Since this is all on my wife's phone/ account, I only use it when she's around. Which is probably good, because there is there is hot little prada model who takes you on a tour of italy in a gondola and such. :)

Today- real time yardwork. If the amorous prada model was here, I'd tell her to go stack some firewood.

I went to a Sketchup seminar a cuppla years ago where someone had some 3D goggle tech on display - it was unreal. You could 'move' virtually room from room in a sketchup drawing, and get a sense of the proportions of the buildings being designed. It felt pretty realistic and I'm sure the technology is being fast tracked to where the product from a couple of years ago is essentially a obsolete....

I'm as afraid of buying a set of these as I am of buying a Sim race setup. I think if I had those to play with I might never leave the house.

Tell you what. Everyone is looking for the next big thing. This is it. Stop what you are doing. Invest here. I'm going to have a hard time going back into work on Monday, not because I'd rather be playing games, but, because, this is huge.

A lot of stuff out there is right about where flight simulator was in 1985. The future is wide open.

And not just for entertainment. I could see tons of applications. Immediately, I thought of virtual teaching in my profession.

Also, psychology/therapy. Fear of heights? Phobias? etc. All an open book with huge treatment potentials.

First program I pulled up was based off this picture. You are out on this steel beam looking down about 80 stories or so to the city below you. Two guys are just sitting there eating lunch with you.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1609103370.jpg

The artwork is amazing. Imagine walking a tighrope between some roger dean type floating mountains. You'd get over fear of heights quick.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1609103933.jpg

In the horror entertainment genre- I walked into a room and somebody had hung themself, dangling right in front of me. Made the two girls in the shining look like nothing.

For the first time in a long while, I'm enthused about something. This seems to have nothing but possibility.

What? I've been using iRacing for a few years and know nothing of a FB requirement?

This. I will use another brand if I ever go VR.

Precisely.
I was sharing about the VR goggles. Unfortunately, it is by FB. It was not meant as a FB plug. There will be other options in the future.

Oculus branded equipment will now require a Facebook account to be able to use them. If you had an Oculus account before it will have to be transfered to Facebook.

Is it the Oculus Quest 2?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1609186827.jpg

^ yes

Oculus and FB: two separate companies, correct?

To the OP: is the 64 GB adequate, or is it better to pony up for the 256 unit?

I used my Oculus today and a screen popped up and asked if i wanted to log in via FB or keep using my oculus account, so I chose that option and it worked as usual.. maybe i got grandfathered in or something?

No, FB owns Oculus.

You are grandfathered for now but even the old systems will have to transfer to a FB account or be used in offline functionality only.

Arstechnica has a couple articles on them.

So, I did break down and get a Valve Index. Dad, at 78 years old has a blast. Roller coasters, shooting galleries. Then again, he likes the racing games with the kids as well and I think it is because it is an interface he knows how to use.

It is immersive and probably the closest thing to a holodeck you can do in the near future.

My wife likes to tour virtual museums. Daughter plays Beat Saber to burn calories and the boy likes the cowboy action game.

Lots of options for sets out there. One thing I would suggest. Make the play area as large as you can. Some things you need more space than you think.

My son (computer geek, IT security specialist) has had his Oculus for years, he might have upgraded since then. He's on the cutting edge of computer stuff. Me, I still type with 2 fingers and am not a big tech guy.

Anyway, I talked to him last night and he was jacked up about taking his first flight test. He had always dreamed of being a pilot/aviator in the military but didn't have the eyesight for it. I guess this is a new platform that is a totally new experience with his Oculus system.

This is the controller he's waiting on:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1612454892.jpg

And this is the game. I guess you choose your squadron, call sign, etc. Quite the cool stuff for you Top Gun Pelicans....

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PFxUzq_yx-4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>