Essential Install | Virtual Reality
The Cinema Designer has already made it easy to create home cinema designs , but soon customers could pick their options in a 3D space
VR probably won ’ t threaten the traditional home cinema just yet
There are loads of other headsets on the market , although users will likely be disappointed by their quality . The most popular headsets tend to come from the mobile phone industry , where the likes of Samsung and Google offer what is essentially a glorified phone holder that you place on your face . The Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream View offer reasonable optics for the price , but home cinema replacement this is not .
The Hard And Fast Rule
Whatever VR headset you specify , the client is going to need some rather specific hardware to run it . If an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive is chosen , then be prepared to shell out considerable dough for a high-end PC . Typically , this involves spending more money on the hardware that enables VR to run smoothly than you would on the VR headset itself .
There are exceptions to this rule . Headsets like the Cinera work with a high-end PC , but it ’ s not required . Instead users can simply plug in any device that has an HDMI connection and enjoy all the visuals on its IMAXsized screen . That includes things like a Blu-ray player , but even a mobile phone is compatible .
Unfortunately , as it stands there are a number of issues associated with VR ’ s hardware requirements . The major issue stems from the fact that long cables will have to run from the back of the headset all the way to whatever hardware is powering it . That ’ s not exactly the most comfortable experience , and thankfully it ’ s an experience that should soon be the thing of the past .
Wireless VR has been discussed for many years , with company ’ s such as HTC and Oculus tipped to be working on versions of their headsets without wires . While those continue to be in development , users who want the wire-free life now can find a solution through third-party manufacturers .
One of the most popular wireless accessories for VR comes from DisplayLink , with the company ’ s offering bringing a transmitter and receiver to the mix . The receiver box attaches directly to the back of the headset and enables ultra-low latency video streaming , while the transmitter can be connected to a computer .
DisplayLink claims that its technology offers latency of between 2-3ms , which is ideal considering anything greater than 20ms will result in motion sickness . The technology currently only supports resolutions up to 2160 x 1200 at 90fps , however , although 4K at 120fps is planned in the future .
Freedom To Move
The advantage VR has over a traditional home cinema is the interactivity element . While users can simply get an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift and roam around in an empty room , there are various accessories on the market to allow even more interactivity .
One of our favourite accessories available in VR comes from Virtuix in the form of the Omni . This unique hardware is like a 360 ° treadmill , with users able to walk freely in any direction while being held in place by a harness . In fact , not only can users walk , they can also run , sit , strafe and go backwards without having to worry about walking into a wall .
While the Omni is hardly going to be the solution of choice for the home cinema , those who want more from their VR than just a viewing device will appreciate its freedom . After all , VR is great for gaming . Unfortunately , it only works with the HTC Vive .
If you ’ re looking for something even more unique than the Omni , then look no further than the Birdly . This VR rig is designed to give those who hop on-board the sensation of soaring through the air using nothing but a fan and a platform that the user lays on . Unlike the Omni , this contraption also works with both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift .
Don ’ t Forget Software
Like a traditional home cinema , software is a key part of the puzzle in a VR cinema . While it ’ s possible to watch physical Blu-ray discs on a headset , the chances are users are going to feel more comfortable utilising the various services built for a virtual world .
Netflix and Jaunt are going to be the number one goto pieces of software for anyone looking for VR content , although it ’ s likely that more will emerge in the future . Unfortunately , it seems that most of the media server platforms that we know and love are yet to support VR with both Plex and Kaleidescape lacking support .
So , can you really build a VR home cinema in the year 2017 ? Technically , yes . Would you want to ? Well , the jury is still out . The technology is still improving at a rapid rate , and by this time next year it is likely to be completely different . Oculus and HTC have both gone back to the drawing board , so it may be worth waiting on their next iteration . Cinera is also not yet released .
Thankfully as an installer you don ’ t need to worry about simply building a VR cinema , but can actually use the technology as a design tool for inspiring clients . For now , that will likely be the better approach for the majority of installers .
52 | September 2017