Oculus Rift Uncensored: The Technology Behind Virtual Reality Headsets
In another article, I have explained the basic concept behind virtual reality. But this time, I’m back to explain the details hidden behind this technological marvel called the Oculus Rift.
For some, the Oculus Rift is just a headset that when connected to your PC, you can start having VR experiences like playing games, or watching movies. However, it is more complicated than that.
The Story In Oculus Rift and How Virtual Reality Became
The first thing that comes into play is the creation of a stereoscopic 3D environment. The Oculus Rift is impressive enough even without adding a fully functional and expertly realized 3D environment. The complex process, even in the world of 2D monitor games, makes games capable of experiencing virtual reality difficult. The basic concept behind the game is: imagine seeing the same image on two screens, only that one of the two parts comes from a different angle.
If this happens, then you have the same effect we saw in our 3D movies. However, this little trick means one thing: traditional methods like motion blur, have to stop. In a 3D environment, blurring the image means instant motion sickness, and thus practically destroys your virtual experience.
The next best part of the headset is the cable. A 10-foot lightweight cable that sends video to the Oculus Rift via HDMI, with an optional DVI adapter for newer laptops and graphics cards. Additionally, it includes both USB and USB ports, making it a fully fledged machine for any respectable player.
A new part of the “consumer version” of the Oculus Rift will be the position tracker. The tiny microphone-like pole is the latest addition to Oculus Rift’s positioning technology, which makes it even easier for your PC to track the position of your head in 3D space. The sleek and distinctive design makes it look natural even in the center of your desk.
And then we move on to the main part of the Oculus Rift:
the headset. This is where the magic happens. A wearable gadget that includes a dedicated motherboard, ARM processor and control chip for LEDs. Comfortable and the “consumer version” is designed to accommodate every type of user, even those who wear glasses and don’t feel comfortable wearing contact lenses. It’s lightweight, sturdy, and overall designed to feel natural.
However, as we dive deeper into the technology behind the Oculus Rift headset, we come across the “Adjacent Reality Tracker”, a piece developed independently of the Oculus Rift and has become a key component to the overall design. This tracker includes a magnetometer, gyroscope and accelerometer, which means that it is the perfect tool for accurately tracking the user’s position in three-dimensional space.
We didn’t end up here, though. The display is another great part of the Oculus Rift. Using the same technology today’s smartphones use to squeeze as many pixels as possible onto a very small screen, it’s said that the “consumer version” will have a 100-degree horizontal display, a total resolution of 2160×1200 and even a refresh rate. higher than the Oculus Rift Development Kit 2, which is 60 Hz.
Near the end, what virtual reality would be without Head-Related Transfer Function (HRTF) technology. To explain, by the time the Oculus Rift launches, the headset will also be equipped with a pair of headphones that can track “voice changes as they reach your head from a point in space”, as the company puts it. It’s a neat effect, making immersion into virtual reality even deeper.
So, there we go then. After the intensive catalog of technology hiding behind the closed case of the Oculus Rift, those features are the reasons behind why you will be able to have virtual reality experiences in the future. In the end, what’s important is that you can put on your headset and get the best possible experience. Computer Technology articles, even if it means you have to be stranded in your chair before the screen.
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