Signal Fall 2021 Newsletter

www.alliancecom.net 5 Ready to enter the realm of VR? As with other forms of electronic enter- tainment, you’ll need equipment. Here are a few tips for finding the best home VR system for your household. See the World Without Leaving Your Couch Apps Just as some mobile apps are available only for iPhone or only for Android, some VR apps are available only for certain systems. Before you purchase a VR head- set, research the apps you want to use it for and make sure the system you choose will support them. Price VR headsets range in price from $15 for a cardboard lens that will work with your smartphone to several hundred dollars for a high-end headset. Think about how much you want to spend before you start shopping, so you don’t go over your bud- get. Keep in mind there are hidden costs, including possibly a new computer or smartphone that can operate the applica- tions you want to use. Technology Before buying, research the most important technical specifications for a VR system: • Interpupillary distance (IPD) is the dis- tance between your pupils as you look ahead. VR lenses should support your IPD. • Horizontal field of view indicates the amount of your field of vision that’s filled by the headset. It should be at least 90 degrees. • Resolution will determine the qual- ity of the images you see. Look for 1080x1200 at a minimum. • Tracking can be internal or external. Internal is preferred. Options Some of the most popular headsets cur- rently on the market include the Oculus Quest 2, the HP Reverb G2, the Sony PlayStation VR, and the HTCVive Cosmos. Remember, there’s no one right VR system for everyone. Choose the one that’s most comfortable and sensible for you. Microsoft Mesh Takes Teams to the Next Level Microsoft’s newMesh platform is being promoted as the next generation of Teams, which is like Zoom—a virtual meeting space where participants can share video, audio, and documents from anywhere in the world. In the Mesh environment, participants represent themselves as avatars who move in the same virtual space. For example, a team of engineers could meet in a virtual space alongside a model of a car they’re designing. The system works using Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, a VR headset worn over the eyes. According to The Verge, “Mesh will eventually support what Microsoft calls ‘holoportation,’ allowing people to appear as themselves in a virtual space.” It will also integrate with Teams and a variety of other applications that Microsoft is hoping developers will create, including those that support social gatherings and games. One of those apps already available is AltspaceVR , a virtual space for live shows, meetups, and classes.