The distinctive characteristics of each technology is the level and depth of immersion in the virtual space, virtual reality display of objects and unique way to interact with them.

It should be noted that the terminology boundaries are blurred, and mixed reality sometimes called “hybrid reality”. Also there is such terms as “programmable reality” or “virtual reality with full immersion (immersive VR), and others. But we will focus on three types of reality.

Augmented reality does not change the human vision of the world and its perception, but complements the real world of artificial elements and new information. The main devices are augmented reality Google Glass, Epson Moverio, Toshiba Glass and others. Augmented reality allows user to obtain information without the use of hands and without being distracted from the process.

Mixed Reality is the next stage of removal from the familiar world. Mixed Reality ads believable virtual objects in real world. The essence of technology to bring the virtual images in our space-time, visualize and consolidate their position accordingly objects of real space so that seeing their customers perceive as real. Mixed Reality combines the best sides of AR and VR. The user continues to interact with the real world and see amazing virtual objects.

Virtual reality is completely immerses the user in a pre-modeled world and isolates from the real. Man is immersed in virtual environment, wearing virtual reality helmets and use other special devices. This technology has the most powerful WOW-effect. The user is immersed in race, desert, or anything that can bring the fantasy writer, designer and developer. Members feel the speed of the car, afraid to fall off the swings and trying to stroke the kitten in the same fictional world, perceiving it as real.

In this article I will discuss virtual reality, which which is the most popular today. This technology is the most available to consumers and has cool WoW-effect. The user receives a large portion of new sensations, through immersion in a virtual world

However, the technique has disadvantageous. For example, the virtual reality of modern devices are not perfect. Also, people have a habit, fear and health problems. However, all these problems will be solved. Analysts are optimistic about the future and predict rapid growth of VR market.

Virtual reality devices

For immersion in virtual reality using VR helmets and other devices: a system of tracking the head, eyes, body movements; gloves, 3D controllers, feedback device, platform, sensors that contribute to a realistic sensation of being in the digital space.

A key device for immersion in virtual reality is VR-helmet (aka Head Mounted Display).

Depending on the type of display helmets are divided into:

Mobile (cardboard and premium)

Google Cardboard is the simplest helmet in the world. It is made of ordinary cardboard and costs very little.

Premium helmets are devices like Samsung Gear VR.

Personal Computer

The most popular and advanced PC-helmet is Oculus Rift. Company Oculus started a revolution in virtual reality. Oculus Rift uses specially designed controllers that will manage the immersion in virtual reality without using the traditional keyboard and mouse.

Consoles

Console virtual reality helmets are trying to take their place on the market. For example, Sony PlayStation has Project Morpheus.

Virtual reality games

According to the forecast Goldman Sachs, the game industry will receive one third of the total market of augmented and virtual reality by 2025.

Now the most popular are game mobile VR. There are also educational games such as InMind and inCell, developed by Nival. The most popular games are in United States.

Game industry – that’s not all. Users want to use VR in television, video, films. Of course, new form of transmission, perception and interaction with information that attracts the attention of users and causing anxious anticipation of the announced innovations.

Already, we can see the recording in format 360, use trainers like Speech Center VR and communicate in VR-platform TimVi.

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Most recently, the company started its activity from the resort Miami – Next Galaxy, appealed for help to the public on the issue of raising funds for the production of your device – Ceekars 4D. These smart headphones that were designed to bring a new level of immersion into the world of virtual reality during games or watching videos, listening to audio using tactile feedback and a more immersive sound technology.

Helmets for virtual reality Oculus Rift and Gear VR, of course, brings a whole new level of visual immersion in the world of games from the outside, but relatively little has been done so far in terms of auditory immersion in the atmosphere. And though the last prototype Oculus adds positional audio to this equation, the visual side of things undoubtedly gets the lion’s share of attention developers Gear VR, so each company really thinks so far, that the emphasis on visual effects justifies sacrificing audio performance.

Using patented “4D-sound” technology, headphones Ceekars 4D may well be the best system sound since it is something much more than ever before produced counterparts. This prototype is designed to make the user feel the sounds around them, just as if he was indeed in terms of the environment, which publishes them. For example, they say their creators, Ceekars allow gamers to hear sounds differently depending on where they are: for example, if they are appropriate to the fire, the crackling of burning branches will become louder and sharper, and closing the door behind him during gameplay , sounds from the street will become much quieter and less legible.

Another notable feature – the use of haptic feedback in a tape headphones. That is, the user can not only hear, say, the roar of thunder, but also feel it as it happens in reality during a severe thunderstorm.

Source: IndieGoGo

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Immersion in virtual reality can not be complete without the involvement of sight, hearing, smell, touch. So far, the developers of virtual reality helmets have the possibility to use sight and hearing, but it seems that soon will be used and the sense of smell and touch.

Thus, the company Feelreal now working to create a special mask that is used with the Oculus Rift. In this case, glasses give sound and image, and the mask Feelreal – smell.

Furthermore, several developers added side-effects such as splashing water in the case of immersing a user in virtual water and other elements.

To the user smell, is inserted in the mask with a set of removable cartridge fragrances for various situations. So, the owner of the mask can feel the smell of the sea, grass, dust, flowers, metal jungle. Added as radiators heat vibrator motors, fans and nozzles.

According to those who have already tried the mask in the project is still far from perfect, and the use of masks in some cases causes discomfort. However, the developers improve mask and soon we will be able to see it improved version.

Source: PCmag

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Despite the fact that many companies are seriously develop virtual reality technology, creating special glasses and helmets, so far they have not received such wide popularity, as we would like. Even the most famous virtual reality helmet Oculus Rift many may come as a surprise. However, some manufacturers are still doing their best to make their products gradually filled the market.

As the resource Engadget, Samsung has started working with the Australian airline Qantas. In the framework of this cooperation the passengers will receive a virtual reality helmet Gear VR from Samsung, which they can use during the flight.

It is reported that Gear VR receive only first-class passengers flying flight between Melbourne and Sydney. The experiment will continue for a month, and then the company will decide whether to continue to use virtual reality helmets during flight.

In addition, while using the Gear VR passengers will only be available some functions, for example, it will show an overview of the circular first-class cabin, type of aircraft during takeoff and landing, or attractions Australia.

Other features of the helmet will not be available, as will agree that move your head or jump during the flight is not so convenient and safe.

Recall that Airbus has also been working on the creation of a virtual reality helmet that can help aerophobia easier to transfer flight.

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If you believe the company Valve, but rather the results of its numerous studies, virtual reality, described in the most popular science fiction novels, is about to come down from their pages and become an ordinary thing for most users.

On this and many other things during the conference Steam Developer Days told Valve engineer Michael Abrash. In order not to repeat all, is to provide the most interesting abstracts. So, according to Mr. Abrash available to most virtual reality devices to hit the market within the next two years. He admitted that at present there are still many problems that hinder the rapid commercialization of ongoing projects to develop virtual reality devices. He mentioned not high enough resolution («1080p has been achieved, but this is not enough”), the need to make virtual reality wireless devices, as well as the fact that a system for tracking the head position in space still not good enough. Moreover, the current prototypes require users to manually adjust, and it’s too hard.

“I’m sure many have heard about the glasses Oculus Rift DK1 and I guess most people think at this stage it’s just one of the interesting projects. At the moment it is quite deliberate decision, and we believe that many should be paid to Oculus Rift much more attention, so the device will have a dramatic effect much sooner than you think “- said Michael Abrash.

It is worth noting that the company Valve itself develops virtual reality device (image above). However, they do not focus on the competition with the company Oculus, which, according to Abrash, is an obvious candidate. Conversely, Valve derives from Oculus invaluable experience.

Finally it is worth mentioning that the best platform for the creation and development of prototype virtual reality devices Abrash said PC instead of game consoles.

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It was learned that NASA experts are currently working on the implementation of two rather interesting projects. First – this is a project to create a new generation rover that does not have wheels or caterpillar tracks, and consists of rods and cables, built on the principle of tensegrity. The second task, which went to researchers from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is to develop an efficient method for controlling robots using points Oculus Rift and Kinect sensor 2.

It is noted that the combined in a seamless design rods and cables, of which mainly consists rover new generation can be controlled by multiple motors. Engines are responsible for compression or stretching of the structural elements, resulting in a change in the shape and the rover can be pumped to the surface of the Moon or other celestial objects. According to the researchers, the rover this type not only takes up very little space inside the spacecraft, but can be reset on the planet’s surface with sufficiently large height and remain intact.

The following video allows you to see the principle of operation of such rovers in detail.

The results of the JPL team are no less impressive. Just a few days they were able to combine a virtual reality goggles Oculus Rift and motion capture Kinect sensor 2 in a single hardware platform for remote control robot arm. In an interview with the resource Engadget JPL engineers said that Oculus Rift Kinect 2 and allowed to create “the most exciting to date interface” remote control of robots.

At this stage, the researchers were able to develop a technology that allows you to conveniently manage only one robot arm. However, in the future it will help to subdue the entire robot. The first technology to be adapted to such robots as Robonaut 2, which is currently on board the ISS.

The video below is able to give a more clear idea about the new development JPL.

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Virtual reality glasses Oculus Rift , who managed to arouse the interest of the public at the stage of development, may soon get a competitor in the face vrAse.

The campaign to raise funds for vrAse launched on Kickstarter . The main highlight of this device is that instead of 3D-display here are using a regular smartphone, or rather its screen. 

The device consists of three parts: a special attachment for the smartphone, building, featuring a modular design and adjustable straps, and a lens. Make notes that the housing can be easily disassembled to the last screw, and the position of the lens can be adjusted depending on the anatomical characteristics of each user. In order to fully immerse themselves in the virtual reality is quite secure smartphone vrAse properly by running on it before this special application. For 3D-image format is Side-by-Side (Side by Side) – in each eye translates the image intended for it. Well-designed housing, or rather vents therein avoids condensation smartphone screen and at the same time transmits light rays.

VrAse glasses are designed to work in tandem with mobile devices with screen sizes ranging from 5 to 6 inches. However, a special adapter included in the package allows the models with screen sizes 3.5-6.3 inches.

The device is available in two versions: vrAse Origin (white color and cut with rounded contours) and vrAse Mist (dark gray color and cut with sharp corners).

According to the developer, vrAse works perfectly with the following smartphones:

• Apple iPhone 5;
• HTC One;
• Sony Xperia Z;
• Samsung Galaxy S3;
• Samsung Galaxy S4;
• Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

In the foreseeable future, the developer plans to increase the interest in the device with the help of special software that allows you to use your smartphone is not only a virtual reality glasses, but also as a device augmented reality. From a hardware point of view, this has everything you need – camera, a full set of sensors and satellite navigation receiver GPS. It is true that initially have to settle for video recording in the first person, as well as games and movies in 3D.

The cost of the device is about $ 100 including shipping. VrAse delivery will begin in February 2014. At the time of writing the news has already collected more than 90% of the planned amount, despite the fact that vrAse still have time until October 14.

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While gamers will argue that it is better: Xbox One or PlayStation 4, a much more interesting way of entertainment – Oculus Rift is getting closer. The device itself is not placed on the market and use it can now only testers who continually share rave reviews, but it has already opened an online store application Oculus Share. Fans of video games will be able to get an application in the form of screenshots, videos and demos, as well as buy your favorite software. Far more useful would shop for developers who will use it not only to sell the results of their labors, but also to exchange experiences, opinions and ideas.

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Virtuix Omni, accessory for Oculus Rift, representing a kind of treadmill will be available soon and is already available for pre-order. Price per set , which includes the very treadmill belts, fasteners, special shoes and the necessary software is $ 500. Unfortunately, the virtual reality helmet must be purchased separately.

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