4 ms·

Everybody talks about VR in terms of games but I wonder if it might be possible to create a productive desktop using a VR helmet. Surely it would be easy to em

Everybody talks about VR in terms of games but I wonder if it might be possible to create a productive desktop using a VR helmet. Surely it would be easy to emulate having N monitors but I bet you could do better.

BigChiefSmokem 12y ago
HoloLens is a better candidate for that. If I'm going to seriously work in a virtual space all around me I rather it be an "open" (AR vs VR) environment.
philmcc 12y ago
Yes, it will be. Here's a fairly fun demonstration of exactly that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db-7J5OaSag https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db-7J5OaSag
- myth_buster 12y ago
  This is what excites me. 360deg desktops with depth perception. This will disrupt quite a few areas least of which would be multiple monitor setups. An interesting implementation would be virtually working from a beach or sitting on top of a colorado 14er. Just have a table fan sending randomized breeze your way. :)
- corysama 12y ago
  There's a small subreddit devoted to the idea of programming inside VR. Several examples there. http://www.reddit.com/r/hmdprogramming http://www.reddit.com/r/hmdprogramming
  - dzhiurgis 12y ago
    These ideas does not provide any novelty. There is potential to re-imagine programming, but I have no clue how. Also, keyboard input is not very compatible with HMD. I guess brain interfaces are the most promising, but why can't we just tap into my pinky's nerve and train my brain to use that as output?
soylentcola 12y ago
There's currently a Virtual Desktop for Windows and it's pretty damn cool. Not quite ready to sell it for $60 or whatnot but it puts your desktop on a virtual curved display in front of you and gives the option of some nice backgrounds (starfields and stuff like that). The only real issue is that until you've got some sort of passthrough, even a good touch-typist will find themselves peeking out under the HMD every so often. It's really best for messing with programs that are more GUI/mouse driven. I mostly just use it as an easy way to watch 3D movies in the Rift but it's got potential. And on the topic of games vs. everything else, I really do think that while games will be the initial focus, they won't be the final say. I'm more looking forward to VR "movies" where you feel like you're in the room with the action or VR telepresence where a few webcam-sized depth cameras are set up around the room at each end so a live, 3d reconstruction of an environment can be sent over networks and allow you to visit other locations or have "VR Skype" calls. That stuff will appeal to a much more general audience than the games which are the logical first avenue to explore.
flycaliguy 12y ago
In a similar vein, I can't wait until the world of music creation software appears in VR. Imagine a virtual studio in which expensive vintage hardware is emulated along side imaginative new instruments. Control mechanisms like step sequencers could be expanded to fill the space around you. Audio synthesis itself, with it's raw waveforms and various modulations, filters and distortions could be brought to life in space around the users. Imagine being able to surround yourself with the signal path. To examine the shape of a sound in 3D space and track it's progression from, for example, a raw sine wave into a layered deep bass line. Considering how much audio professionals already spend for high quality production environments and the IOS's popularization of unique, small team created software synths... I can't wait. Korg's mock up of their IOS software Gadget as real objects really gets my imagination going. http://macprovid.vo.llnwd.net/o43/hub/media/1087/8774/korgGadget.jpg http://macprovid.vo.llnwd.net/o43/hub/media/1087/8774/korgGa...
- Impossible 12y ago
  This is an amazing startup idea (virtual reality music studio). I think the success of Tiltbrush proves that VR has a lot of potential for interesting new creative applications.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
schnevets 12y ago
Bloomberg has already started investigating Oculus for its Terminal systems: http://qz.com/218129/virtual-reality-headset-oculus-rift-meets-the-bloomberg-terminal/ http://qz.com/218129/virtual-reality-headset-oculus-rift-mee...
ogreveins 12y ago
I'm working on something to that effect. I'm much further than what this shows. Shameless plug i guess. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm2luLX8zbc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm2luLX8zbc

BigChiefSmokem 12y ago

HoloLens is a better candidate for that. If I'm going to seriously work in a virtual space all around me I rather it be an "open" (AR vs VR) environment.

philmcc 12y ago

Yes, it will be. Here's a fairly fun demonstration of exactly that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db-7J5OaSag https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db-7J5OaSag

myth_buster 12y ago
This is what excites me. 360deg desktops with depth perception. This will disrupt quite a few areas least of which would be multiple monitor setups. An interesting implementation would be virtually working from a beach or sitting on top of a colorado 14er. Just have a table fan sending randomized breeze your way. :)
corysama 12y ago
There's a small subreddit devoted to the idea of programming inside VR. Several examples there. http://www.reddit.com/r/hmdprogramming http://www.reddit.com/r/hmdprogramming
- dzhiurgis 12y ago
  These ideas does not provide any novelty. There is potential to re-imagine programming, but I have no clue how. Also, keyboard input is not very compatible with HMD. I guess brain interfaces are the most promising, but why can't we just tap into my pinky's nerve and train my brain to use that as output?

soylentcola 12y ago

There's currently a Virtual Desktop for Windows and it's pretty damn cool. Not quite ready to sell it for $60 or whatnot but it puts your desktop on a virtual curved display in front of you and gives the option of some nice backgrounds (starfields and stuff like that). The only real issue is that until you've got some sort of passthrough, even a good touch-typist will find themselves peeking out under the HMD every so often. It's really best for messing with programs that are more GUI/mouse driven. I mostly just use it as an easy way to watch 3D movies in the Rift but it's got potential. And on the topic of games vs. everything else, I really do think that while games will be the initial focus, they won't be the final say. I'm more looking forward to VR "movies" where you feel like you're in the room with the action or VR telepresence where a few webcam-sized depth cameras are set up around the room at each end so a live, 3d reconstruction of an environment can be sent over networks and allow you to visit other locations or have "VR Skype" calls. That stuff will appeal to a much more general audience than the games which are the logical first avenue to explore.

flycaliguy 12y ago

In a similar vein, I can't wait until the world of music creation software appears in VR. Imagine a virtual studio in which expensive vintage hardware is emulated along side imaginative new instruments. Control mechanisms like step sequencers could be expanded to fill the space around you. Audio synthesis itself, with it's raw waveforms and various modulations, filters and distortions could be brought to life in space around the users. Imagine being able to surround yourself with the signal path. To examine the shape of a sound in 3D space and track it's progression from, for example, a raw sine wave into a layered deep bass line. Considering how much audio professionals already spend for high quality production environments and the IOS's popularization of unique, small team created software synths... I can't wait. Korg's mock up of their IOS software Gadget as real objects really gets my imagination going. http://macprovid.vo.llnwd.net/o43/hub/media/1087/8774/korgGadget.jpg http://macprovid.vo.llnwd.net/o43/hub/media/1087/8774/korgGa...

Impossible 12y ago
This is an amazing startup idea (virtual reality music studio). I think the success of Tiltbrush proves that VR has a lot of potential for interesting new creative applications.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]

schnevets 12y ago

Bloomberg has already started investigating Oculus for its Terminal systems: http://qz.com/218129/virtual-reality-headset-oculus-rift-meets-the-bloomberg-terminal/ http://qz.com/218129/virtual-reality-headset-oculus-rift-mee...

ogreveins 12y ago

I'm working on something to that effect. I'm much further than what this shows. Shameless plug i guess. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm2luLX8zbc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm2luLX8zbc