Tag: Virtual Reality

  • Diffractive Lens vs. Google Cardboard’s Asphere

    As I mentioned in my last post, Google Cardboard is the interim hardware for developing Daydream apps.  The lenses look very similar to those used in the Oculus Rift development kits, although a bit faster and smaller in diameter.  The field of view is also a bit smaller.  On-axis, the MTF is nearly perfect, but off axis…

  • Google Daydream is a Virtual Reality

    At Google I/O on Wednesday, Clay Bavor announced Daydream, which is Google’s new platform for high-quality mobile VR.  It will be released this fall in conjunction with VR-optimized Android N.  The hardware will consist of a headset and controller that can be used with any “daydream-ready” phone (Samsung, HTC, and LG are among manufacturers designing to this spec).  As with Cardboard,…

  • Fresnel Lenses and the Oculus Rift CV1

    The new consumer version of the Oculus Rift has just been released and there’s been a lot of buzz about the new hybrid fresnel lenses and how they compare with those in the HTC Vive Pre. Incidentally, based on the reviews, these may be different from the lenses that I demoed at CES and apparently, the screen door…

  • 360 Video and VR at CES 2016

    Seemingly, all possible configurations of multiple video cameras slapped together to create 360-deg video were on display at CES, including the wheeled contraption below from Radiant Images that I came across at VR Fest and the more compact Nikon KeyMission 360, which was kept in a closely-guarded case at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  The…