FreeflyVR, the Model X of the Cardboard Crowd

As I hope many of you have learned (or are starting to learn) from first-hand knowledge: mobile VR is incredible. The GearVR may have been the fanciest hat thrown into the ring so far (and come on, it’s pretty great,) but chances are good that if you’re reading this you are already accustomed with Google Cardboard as well. By focusing on accessibility over features Google showed the public at large how revolutionary this technology will be. Then came the others. There are so many different possible devices that you can set a smartphone into, now. I would love to eventually try them all, and in pursuit of this I have started searching for the most promising candidates.

It may astonish some to read that I am currently entrenched in the iOS ecosystem. In the field of digital media and design Mac was my first platform. For that reason when I started I had a mac in my home, and worked on a mac all day. This meant that it was logical, from an IoT/ecosystem standpoint, to get an AppleTV when the time came for a streaming box, an iPhone, and an iPad. Apple has many flaws, but something that I feel they do very well is their interconnectivity within their ecosystem. I’m currently waiting for the right time to transition to a different ecosystem, but that’s an entirely different topic for another time. The reason I brought all of this up is: I needed to start with a device that would accommodate my enormous iOS device (a 6+.) I settled on a FreeflyVR pretty early on. It was only a matter of time before I could get one shipped to me, and I have been quite pleased since.

First and foremost: it functions. Everything works as intended and, even though it might seem like a given, not everyone gets that right. Freefly has no features that get in the way of being able to enjoy any mobile VR experiences iOS has to offer. I knew that I wanted to be hands-free in my VR, so something with a strap was a must. Their headset has horizontal and vertical support straps (much like the Oculus Rift DK2) which keep everything snugly and securely in front of my eyes. There is a comfortable cushion that rings the eyes making long-term use quite comfortable. This is the presidential suite of “cardboard-esque” mobile HMD mounts. Everything about it conveyed a sense of comfort to me, even down to the sturdy carrying case that accompanied the device. I was quite pleased with how well it handled the size of my phone, as well. There is a rather large, albeit very sturdy, case on my phone and I was concerned this would interfere with the retractable arms ability to hold my phone. However, thanks to the strength of the spring system and foam pads that surrounded my phone on 5 sides, the fit was tight and very easy to get in and out.

Some people have seemed intimidated by the price-point. At the time of this writing the Freefly is $79.99 which might be high compared to the $12.99 price on Amazon for some Cardboard viewers with head straps. Of course you don’t need to spend 80 dollars just to access the world of mobile VR, but I looked at it this way: if you’re going driving into new and fantastical lands in a brand-new vehicle, would you rather go in a Smart Car? Or a Tesla Model X?

Hydra: Motion Control Right Now

Though there are many who look at emergent VR technology and see the obvious zero point for head mounted displays (and what that will mean for VR as a technology) it's only now that HMD technology is progressing that it's becoming equally apparent that motion control is imperative for creating an immersive metaverse. That's why you see technologies like Lighthouse coming from Valve, and there have been rumors that Oculus is working on some semblance of control themselves.

I learned a long time ago not to throw my support on any one technology at the forfeit of others, if for no other reason than technology is evolving so quickly that you could end up entrenched in an outdated (or merely not optimal) ecosystem. So, even though Valve and others will doubtlessly provide excellent control options, I've been exploring others in the mean time. My currently anticipated peripheral is Sixense's STEM system, which is a wireless multi-tracker rig that allows the user to customize how they input (with tracker packs and controllers) but while I wait I went to their first project: The Hydra.

Most people are probably aware that, although Razer produced the Hydra, all the tech under the hood came from Sixense. You can even use the Motion Creation Editor software that they put out with it in favor of the older Razer profiles. This means that becoming comfortable with Hydra control now sets you up best to upgrade to STEM input later, as the control profiles will be quite similar. If you've had as much interest in motion control as I do, most of this probably is old hat, so lets get into the details of the system.

The Hydra tracks two controllers in space by positioning them relative to the control base. It can tell how the devices are oriented, when they tip/roll, if you move forward or back, 7 keypresses per unit, and they each have a control-stick. They do a rather surprisingly good job of tracking, as well. The best example of this is Half Life VR, which can be used with them. It allows the user to hold their guns freely and position them in space at whatever angle they wish. Want to shoot around corners? No problem. Throw grenades variable distances using Half Life's famous physics? You absolutely can. But where it really shines it how it manipulates the game UI. When using the full Razer/Oculus set up you can actually view your health and armor by looking at the back of your right hand. And this is where the game, so to speak, changes.

Since the invention of the modern computer we have been, essentially, bound by our keyboard (and, later, the mouse.) One of the primary goals of the metaverse is to transport consciousness/perception directly into content, and having to WASD around a room will always limit your sense of presence. With the addition of motion controllers, however, you are free from the keyboard and the conventions of interaction/movement that come with it. There are days coming ahead where we will need to redefine the principles for user experience within things like the internet, games, and even movies. The passive viewer isn't going to last, and controllers like the Razer Hydra are trumpeting the downfall.

Motion control is a hard thing to describe if you can't try it. Since, as human organisms, we are quite accustomed to interacting with our world through reach and touch that part has a very simple learning curve and with the accessibility of gaming more and more people are becoming comfortable with controller-like input. This just leaves practice/experience as the only outlying piece required to make initiated motion controller users, and that will come in time.

If you haven't looked at the STEM I think it's one to watch, and if you have some disposable income to flex I recommend the Hydra. There are a lot of experiences that support it, and it can be used like a controller for the experiences that don't. VR control is an inevitable so you should consider becoming comfortable with it as soon as possible.

The Best HMD I Can Get My Hands On (Right Now)

What a perfect time to exist on this planet. Technologies are coming into existence that our mothers and fathers could only dream of. It is perfectly reasonable to think that within our lifetime humankind will be able to experience a sophisticated and robust metaverse that will allow us to bridge social gaps, tear down race and sex barriers, facilitate education for more youth, and engage in fantastic media and gaming experiences with each other. In fact, that is barely the beginning of a much longer list. The possibilities for the use of metaversal technology is almost limitless, and it is quite possible that we will owe this entire foray into the virtual space to Palmer Luckey and the Oculus Rift. I already reflected on this technology in its first incarnation in a previous message, so I won’t get bogged down in the theoretical if I can help it. Specifically I want to focus on the Development Kit 2, and what it brings to the metaversalist’s arsenal.

Just like its predecessor, the DK2 is a comfortable, functional, wired HMD. It still needs to draw power from an external source and it’s input comes directly from a desktop computer. However, the first major change comes in its integration with a desk (or tripod mounted) camera. When the DK1 was released it allowed the user to track their view within simulated worlds by looking left, right, up and down. However, it did not allow the user to track their head in space. This means that you couldn’t lean around corners, lean over to look down at your feet, or get truly close to inspect objects. As technologies are developed that can render digital imagery at near-lifelike quality you will certainly want the ability to inspect your environment. Well, with the help of infrared tracking, the DK2 allows you to do this and it works really well.

The amount of presence enhancement that comes from head tracking is astounding. Not just for the person inside of the HMD, either. As I’ve remarked earlier, when I was using AltspaceVR I noticed that the head tracking data was being sent not just to my viewport, but also to the head of my avatar that others were seeing in the social VR environment. The effect is wonderful for enhancing social VR and I would encourage you to read my thoughts on AltspaceVR (and follow their progress, I’m a huge fan of what they’re doing.)

There are, of course, other important upgrades. The DK2 allows programs to access the HMD directly, which streamlines the usage process. As we all know, ease-of-use is extremely important in order to get people to adopt an emergent technology. Without adopters there’s no funding to continue the development, and so making a plug-and-play product will be important to VR in the short (and long) run.

The graphics are better, due to screen pixel density. Essentially, the more pixels per inch of screen, the less you notice their individual colors when the lenses focus the picture onto your eyes. This, too, will be extremely important to allowing users a robust experience, since the device is currently used only for visual feedback. (They are working on binaural audio, though, which would also be driven by the head tracking.)

The price point was a little high for the casual user, but as with all technology as the demand rises more accessible units will become available either from Oculus or a competitor. There were substantial rumors that by the end of 2015 we may have one or more consumer-level HMDs on the market so if you were thinking about buying a DK2 I would suggest you wait (if you can muster up any patience.) If you are unable to, though, I think that the DK2 isn’t a bad investment. Though not initially stable (it is a development kit, after all) they regularly update and it’s quite likely that by the time consumer versions of other HMDs are being released the DK2 will be the most stable for a while.

It’s a wonderful, magical little device and I am a big fan of it.

Tastes Like Future

There is a specific reason that I chose to name this section of Metaversalist "Upgrades." The metaversalist needs to be a complete package. Though, like in Gibson's Sprawl, many treat their bodies like they're secondary to the mind and what they can do online, the fact of the matter is that until technology can capture consciousness and allow human-kind to become something a little more long-lived: we need to care for the human bodies we have. And that's exactly what Soylent is helping me do.

Soylent is a completely balanced superfood that feels like it comes from the future. It comes in a powder, and you mix it with water. This food comes with patchnotes, everyone. If that doesn't pique your interest then please read on. It gets much, much better.

I have been using Soylent for 2-3 meals a day for two weeks, and I loved it so much that I've decided to subscribe. Yep, they have a subscription service. No more grocery store for me. It should cut down on my spending too, because it's only $130 USD for the month. Granted, that doesn't cover every one of my meals, but it should account for about 2/3rds of them which frees up some funds for the important things.

Let's also talk about the health benefits. I never realized how deficient my diet was until I switched to Soylent. Now that my diet is balanced (and I'm getting plenty of nutrients) I have been able to cut caffeine out. I don't take a multivitamin anymore. If this sounds like it's becoming a bit preach-ey. . . well, maybe it is. There aren't a lot of things that can actually be life-changing but this might be one of them, for me anyway.

It takes me about 2 minutes to make a 500 calorie meal. It takes me 40 seconds to consume it, and that leaves so much more time to dedicate to things that I'm passionate about. I make my first meal of Soylent right before I drive out in the morning, and then a second meal around 1pm. I have stopped snacking, too. That's how satiated I feel with only two 500 calorie meals of Soylent.

Now, if you're like the beautiful human who has chosen to spend the rest of human life with me, food is pretty important to you. There are many who look at something like Soylent and think that it will deprive them of the joy that food brings them: texture, taste, temperature, pairings, all of that. I think that before you start, in theory, it sounds like a perfectly grounded concern. However, I can tell you that Soylent has improved my relationship with food, not reduced it. I enjoy what I eat (when I "eat") so much more now. Food has finally returned to being a pleasure for me, not just a consequence of keeping my body alive.

Soylent is, for me, a perfect blend of science, sustenance, timing, nutrients, and finance. Please look into Soylent if anything here rings true with you.

A Much Overdue Message about the DK1

In this, the modern VR climate, where so much technology required to build the metaverse is finally coming to light, I personally have come to have unending respect for Palmer Luckey and the Oculus company. Whether or not you backed them on kickstarter, and whether you're a hobbyist with a Cardboard, are banking on mobile VR, Valve's & HTC's awesome looking reVive, or any of the numerous HMD options that have been coming to market my opinion is that the climate for virtual and augmented reality wouldn't be where it is without them.

For that reason I want to take some time to talk about my Oculus Rift DK1 before writing about my DK2. This bad-boy was the first thing that gave me a taste of the metaverse, like in the books I've read growing up. When you can step inside a game environment it really changes the way you feel about your hobbies. I remember in school learning about the people who saw a black and white train movie at the advent of cinema and flinched in fear. I thought they were stupid. "How could you possibly get such a thing confused with the real world" I thought. And then I experienced the first of the wave of modern HMDs. I understood what they felt. This is the vanguard of a new front of technology that will impact our species every bit as much, if not more, than film. The parallel is a little overwhelming now that I think about it.

I'd like to speak briefly about the obvious flaws. Nothing is perfect the first time, as in my example about early cinema. Now we have 4K displays and binaural audio to accompany our moving pictures. The same thing was true of the DK1. It had some pretty jarring screen-door effect, sure. And there was no positional tracking. It's funny how I filter than now through the lense of the DK2, but I can't help it. I will admit to feeling some discomfort when moving through the Tuscany demo, but not when flying around through space. Just like VR as it advances, tailoring the experience to the technology was key. I remember using my Razer Hydra (predecessor to the fantastic looking Sixense STEM) and playing around with Half Life 2 VR. It's worth going back and taking a look, everyone. Even with the more sophisticated technology and the more advanced tech demos and games. That will probably remain one of my fondest memories for some time.

Even without the positional tracking, it didn't matter. I didn't care. I was hooked. I know that 100 years from now, when we are using neurocannula to connect to a sim-world we'll balk at how people flinched when birds flew in their face in VR, but you know what? It was awesome. And I'm so glad that I did.

Lets (Finally) Talk About Myo

If you follow me on twitter you will notice that I talk about my Myo. Not too much. Not like a crazy person, but a lot. The fact of the matter is I use one (sometimes two) every day. Usually for around 8 hours. My Myo IS my mouse, and I love it.

Myo is a myoelectric gesture control armband that uses the electrical signals your brain sends your muscles for computer input. It also tracks acceleration, pitch, and yaw. This means that you can essentially wave your arms through the air and interact with things (a computer, a smart phone, a tablet, anything with bluetooth capability.) It is absolutely magical.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I pay the bills with interactive design and art direction. It means that, among other things, I spend a lot of time editing images. I can pen tool with Myo as my mouse in the same or less time than it took me before, and I'm no slouch when it comes to image clipping.

The thing that originally made it possible to use Myo as a mouse was Global Mouse Control, a fantastic Myo application available to any Myo user on their Myo Market Beta. Now, however, I bounce back and forth between that and their native keyboard mapper. The keyboard mapper allows for more sophisticated gesture control and provides more haptic feedback on things like mouseclick. It is my hope that eventually their native keyboard mapper will allow me to map to both Myos and then I can technomage my computer to do my bidding.

A side note about Myo, I recently tried using it during AltspaceVR's beta weekend (that ended up being longer than a weekend) for control within their program. It wasn't without error, but it was a fantastic experience that definitely lended to my sense of presence. Waving your hands through the air in VR feels just like waving your hands through the air in real life. Who knew?

If you have the money you can get Myo on Amazon or from thalmic labs directly. I use mine daily, think very highly of it, and would absolutely recommend it to a friend. Or a stranger. Or an ai agent, if they had arms.

A Promising New Contender

I couldn't wait once I heard the news, HTC and Valve are joining the VR fray with the announcement of their Vive HMD. Valve has been not-so-secretly working on VR technology for some time and to great acclaim, everyone who has been invited to try Valve's tech has raved about it.

It supposedly used a series of tracking points in the room to do very accurate head/positional tracking. Well it looks like they've finally ironed out enough of the kinks to go pro. By Christmas of this year we are supposed to have our hands on a real consumer level HMD. I couldn't be more pleased.

I'm not jumping ship where Oculus is concerned, mind you, but it's no secret that I am a huge fan of Valve and their work. What can we expect from the Vive? 90 fps, 1200x1080 resolution per eye, a supposed full range of vision imagery, comprehensive exploration within a space as large as 15x15, and their own proprietary Valve VR software.

I have had the pleasure of beta testing Valve VR and it's fantastic. It's perhaps the best browser (even for the web) that I have encountered in VR. If they could combine with something similar to AltspaceVR's social qualities then it will be a huge contender. Once step closer to the metaverse my friends. Prepare your preorder dollars, lets make sure to show them that we appreciate their product.

Myo Armband

Though perhaps not as pivotal to the Metaversalist as the Oculus Rift DK2, the first upgrade that I will be speaking about at length is the Myo Armband, which I have been experiencing great success with thanks to it's Global Mouse Control program. More to come on that soon.