The world of virtual reality is always moving forward, with developers of VR headsets constantly testing the waters to see what is possible. Just a few months ago, Oculus Quest began testing its hand tracking feature, and others quickly followed suit with their own unique VR capabilities. Now, there is a new feature for the virtual reality environment. Despite being a relatively new player to the VR game, the Valve Index has been the first to take steps towards an accurate room view, directly from its headset.
This new feature has been revealed as Room View 3D, which allows players to see the world around them without having to remove the headset. Valve's new Room View will not only encourage players to be aware of their surroundings, but is also one step on the path towards better standalone virtual reality. With standalone headsets like the Oculus Quest, players do not need a separate set of motion trackers to orient a "play space," using techniques similar to Valve's new room view.
Because this new feature is still in experimental mode, many users have come across jittery or unstable visuals, but they are otherwise impressed with Valve's new room view. The Valve Index only debuted in March, so the fact that Valve has made such large steps with its newest headset is truly remarkable. For example, some players have seen disfigurement in their hands while testing the new feature, but objects that are not in motion seem to retain their visual depth.
Additionally, the VR menu and environment is still slightly visible when players select the room view option, instead of being entirely replaced by the room depiction. Because the room view is not complete, it gives a slightly uncomfortable visual for players, whose eyes are experiencing two separate worlds at once. As might be expected, this room view is not visible without a VR headset, despite the fact that many users have created mods to play various VR games on a traditional PC.
However, the new 3D Room View is a vast improvement on the previous real-world interface that players have used up until now. The previous room view only offered a 2D visual, and objects such as chairs and bed-frames did not retain their realistic depth behind the headset. Although the Index's new 3D room view has its fair share of issues, it is better than the Passthrough View that preceded it.
Above is a picture of the Passthrough view, Valve's attempt to outline the 3-dimensional depth of various objects in the room. The Index VR menu is still visible in the background, showing that the real-world view represented is more of an outline of the player's surroundings, rather than giving an accurate depiction.
The difference between these two room views is staggering, and shows the progress that Valve is making in the world of VR technology. Valve is not alone, as many other companies have been experimenting with new ways to improve and utilize these headsets as aids, treating disabilities such as OCD. These small steps are significant representations of the capabilities of VR, and will undoubtedly lead to capabilities that users never would have imagined.
Room View 3DÂ is now available as an experimental feature for the Valve Index.
Source: Steam VR