This document provides an overview of virtual reality hardware currently available and discusses considerations for building VR solutions. It summarizes the key features of VR hardware like Google Cardboard, Samsung GearVR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. It also outlines technologies that are important for VR like motion controllers and discusses approaches for VR and game development, considering factors like the need for native apps versus web-based solutions.

1. VR hardware and
development
Casper Fabricius
Immersion FTW

2. About me
• 16 years of experience as a software developer
• FreelanceVR developer with Immersion FTW (immersionftw.com)
• Specialized in Unity and web basedVR solutions
• Special interest inVR for education

3. HowVR lenses work

4. Hardware available today

5. Google Cardboard &
“plastic cardboards” From kr. 30
+ smartphone

6. Google Expeditions

7. Samsung GearVR
kr. 900
+ Samsung
Galaxy phone

8. Labster Forensics Lab

9. Oculus Rift
€699
+ powerful
Windows PC

10. Apollo 11VR Experience

11. HTCVive
€899
+ powerful
Windows PC

12. GoogleTilt Brush

13. Room-scaleVR can be very immersive

14. Cardboard GearVR Rift Vive
Pros • No cables
• Works with any
smartphone
• Cheap
• No cables
• Decent
performance
• High performance
• High comfort
• High performance
• Motion
controllers
• Room-scale
Cons • Low performance
• Low immersion
• Closed app
ecosystem
• Requires specific
phone
• Cables
• Requires powerful
PC
(Same as Rift)

15. Hardware on the horizon

16. PlayStationVR
October 2016
€399
+ PS4 and
PS camera

17. OculusTouch
Second half of 2016
$199?

18. Important technologies forVR
• 3D audio headphones
• Motion controllers for mobile
• Depth and room scale for
mobile
• GalvanicVestibular
Stimulation
• Eye tracking
• Haptic feedback
• Threadmills
• Full-body motion tracking
• 3D scanning

19. Building virtual reality solutions

20. VR & game development

21. • Browsers can render hardware-accelerated 3D fast using WebGL – also on
mobile phones.
• WebVR makes browsers able to render virtual reality experiences, which
works great especially forCardboard.
• A special version of Chrome or Firefox is required to use WebVR with Rift or
Vive, but this is not the case for mobile phones.
VR & web development

22. Things to consider when buildingVR
• It’s harder to buildVR for mobile due to performance constraints.
• Native apps are not always the solution: WebVR can be a great for
lightweight VR experiences on Google Cardboard.
• The long approval time for iOS apps can make fast iterations impossible.
• GearVR is also a walled garden that requires approval of your app.
• Native apps for Rift andVive can be freely distributed, but Steam and
Oculus Store are still the place to be if you want to sell.

24. Thank you
@fabricius
www.immersionftw.com