Comments on: VR Kit – HMD : Portable VR

By: Sébastien "VR Geek" Kuntz » Razer Hydra – Cheap magnetic tracking

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:23:15 +0000

[...] in all that’s certainly an improvement upon the GameTrak + Spacepoint Fusion combo, but it could have been better without those cables. The vibration feedback would also have been a [...]

By: A VR Geek's Blog » VR Escape – A VR Geeks’ game in 48 hours

A VR Geek's Blog » VR Escape – A VR Geeks’ game in 48 hours — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:11:11 +0000

[...] I participated in the Global Game Jam 2011: 48h straight to create a game ! I decided to bring my VRKit-HMD to see if we could make a game with that, and we did [...]

By: Cb

Cb — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:54:59 +0000

There are several nice VR software to have fun with.
Virtools, Vizard, Quest3D, VR4Max (specially for architecture)
They should all have relevant documentation.
Or you can drop me an email if you have specific questions !
Good luck and let me know your progress!

By: Marco

Marco — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:49:46 +0000

cb. im sorry. not cd.

By: Marco

Marco — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:48:54 +0000

Hi cd,
Thank you for your reply. I would like to begin working with VR visually. I am a 3rd year software engineering uni student, so HOPEFULLY i can cope with some of technical aspects. where does one look to read about setting up little test system? besides this great blog of course!

By: cb

cb — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:12:51 +0000

@Marco : It would indeed be simpler just to get a hmd with tracking, but you will only get rotation. Head translation are quite important for depth perception. Getting stereoscopy to work with HMD is not always straightforward, they don’t support nvidia 3d vision yet !

Architecture walkthrough are surely a very nice VR application, so you can start with that and see if you need to improve that

By: Marco

Marco — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 11:24:58 +0000

I am *NEW* to VR but pretty good at 3d modelling (3ds, maya, blender). If I wanted an hmd with good head tracking to immerse myself visually in my models, would it be simpler than the doing all of those great things youve done in this post?

i mean, would head tracking alone not be very immersive? I would not concern myself with interaction for the moment (id use a xbox controller or something), but id like to be immersed visually.

what are your thoughts on that?

plz and thank you.
m

By: cb

cb — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:32:56 +0000

( http://x37v.com/x37v/writing/mad-catz-gametrak-mod-for-maxmsp/ )

By: cb

cb — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:30:20 +0000

Hi Dimi,

I provied 6dof head tracking. Position is very important to get the parallax effect which can be more important than stereoscopy. I think most people mix depth perception with stereoscopy, but stereoscopy is only one of the cues for depth perception.
Of course it would be better with stereo, but it’s too much work right now.

Vuzix have a SDK where you can pass both images I believe. One fellow VR Geek has decoded the usb protocol for it too so if you want to try that I can give you his contact.

You’re right about the gamepad, but I had a Wiimote and not a gamepad Also I’d say it feels more natural to move both hands independetly. When people have the gamepad in their hands, are they still moving the pad in space or just orienting it ?

I ordered the Gametrak 5 years ago I think. One month ago there were still several places were it can be bought.. Ebay etc. Careful there is a PC version and a PS2 Version. The PS2 version will require a soldering point to work it seems.

By: Dimi

Dimi — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:14:32 +0000

Hi Sebastien,
thanks for the link, ti was very infromative. So in essence beacause you provide 3dof head tracking and correct visual cues the user of the HMD is fooled to think that he is perceivein stereo? Or at least he does not miss it. Very nice.

What does the Vuzix specification include? A custom driver?

Instead of a Wii you could also use a Wireless Logitech RumblePad II. Since you are using only joystick and buttons I think its more convenient. We are using it for year on our installations. (vr.ime.gr)

Where did you order the gametrack? I tried yesterday and could not find it for order over the internet. The company tha t produced it was aquired by someone else.