Slashdot Mirror
New Approach To Virtual Reality Shocks You Into Believing Walls Are Real (vice.com)
A team of researchers from Germany's Hasso-Plattner Institute is trying to find an effective way to trick the mind into thinking a virtual object or wall is real. They have developed a new device that "sends little electric shocks to sensors on your arms that stimulate your muscles whenever you press against a wall or try to lift a heavy object in virtual reality," reports Motherboard. From the report: The team's main goal was to create this illusion as cheaply as possible. Their contraption, seen in the video above, consists of little more than an electric muscle stimulator stuffed in a backpack, the sensors, and a Samsung GearVR device accompanied by motion trackers. In other words, if you've been turned off by the clunky headsets of the contemporary VR experience, this probably won't do much to win you over.
Yeah I can see this being used to stimulate other muscles when they bump into softer objects under more interesting simulations real soon. I doubt that'll "turn off" too many VR users.
All I can think of is all the various ways I'm certain it will somehow get abused.
I don't know how, I don't know which company or three-letter agency, but somehow, this is going to be used to nefarious ends instead of simple porn.
Those wacky Nazis have innovated again.
That will be when it helps you make decisions better than you do without it. What kind of decisions are better made with a VR headset on your head vs. having one or more 2D displays in front of you? Training/simulation seems to be an almost established niche, but beyond that I can think of anything.
I want the wall hack code so I can get the high score.
And is also the best Pink Floyd album
and save us about 50 million bucks
With a real exit bag, to augment the sensation (or lack there of) of a "simulated" VR exit bag experience.
Be sure to read the fine print in the EULA.
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
But you still can't lean against that virtual wall, or set a real object down on that virtual table -- things I've attempted while using the Vive, with predictably humorous results.
I'm a repairman in the Matrix and I take care of all you Copper tops. We been using these things for years. Work perfectly, no one can tell they are jacked into a bathtub.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
stimulate your muscles whenever you press against a wall or try to lift a heavy object in virtual reality,"
"Virtual mime".
But there's no arguing about the shocks being real.
Side effects include users developing an aversion to picking up objects or touching walls in real life.
The team's main goal was to create this illusion as cheaply as possible.
Do it properly in R&D. Then see if you can do it cheaper or otherwise reduce costs through scale once you know what you're doing. By focusing too much on cost upfront, you will miss important avenues of research.
These people have already failed.
Since when has having fun been about making good decisions?
The headline sounds suspiciously like an interrogation technique.
...because they're always thinking about walls while women are always thinking about ceilings.
Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
I'll be shocked when I can believe the virtual reality business is a real thing instead of just hype.
Just wait until VR Porn popularizes it.
It's already pretty popular, you should try it.
Even with something as trivial as Google cardboard it is a pretty big step up from regular porn.
Training/simulation seems to be an almost established niche, but beyond that I can think of anything.
Gaming and 3D modeling are the other obvious ones.
Side effects include users developing an addiction to picking up objects or touching walls in real life.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
One of the more interesting problems I've encountered with the Vive is. . . What happens when you push your face into a wall?
First I have to say, this is *extremely* counter-intuitive to do at first. Pushing my face into a wall really doesn't come naturally at all.
In some games (or not-exactly-games, like realities.io) you can see what's on the other side of the wall, and you can get glimpses of things you aren't really meant to see -- which can be fun and useful. In other games the display just fades to black, preventing you from "cheating" in this way.
A few days ago I got Compound, which is a simple-but-addictive demo game, where pushing my head into a wall moves the wall. Actually, it moves EVERYTHING. It just nudges the whole virtual world over a few inches. Which is odd, but oddly cool. If I get too close to a *real* wall, I can always step back to the center of my game space, even if it looks like there's a virtual wall in my way.
Good'ol Les - used to mark his virtual office using masking tape. But electroshock -- oh what an idea.
For you younger folk: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Good point, though I think it's a specific subcategory of 3D modelling where viewing in VR would pay off. It would have to be some case where stakes are high and you can catch in VR something that you can't on the screen and it makes all the difference. Don't quite know what that is though (but sounds niche).
I'm less convinced re gaming, VR is optional there.
The sticker shock of buying a VR setup is so great that no one will respond to the "tiny" shocks that indicate wall contact.
Why is Snark Required?
Animals....Wish You Were Here...
now get off my lawn
sorry for same reply
/. page edits
Dark Side of the Moon
freaking