Virtual reality movies are the next frontier in entertainment. While some took the bold step and declared themselves as VR fans forever, other people are yet to experience watching a movie through virtual reality goggles for the first time. It is not something comparable to anything else from our past.
Virtual reality changes the entire concept of watching movies – it is a multi-sensory experience which creates the illusion of being inside the movie and almost capable of interacting with the scenery and the characters. In theory this is awesome, but there are a few little issues which new users of virtual reality goggles need to know and get used to.
This is not by far a comprehensive guide, but we tried to include the most important points which differentiate virtual reality movies from traditional 2D movies.
The Feeling of Disorientation
One of the symptoms invoked by many people who watched a movie in virtual reality is a feeling of nausea and disorientation. It is not something alarming or dangerous; the sensation comes from a conflict between the signals sent by the eyes to the brain – of movement – and the signals of the inner ear (which helps us maintain balance and a sense of direction) which perceives no movement at all.
To get rid of this sensation, pause the movie and close your eyes for a few minutes. If you still feel disoriented, take off the headset and spend a few minutes looking around at the real world around you.
Take the Time to Adjust the Virtual Reality Goggles Properly
Wearing a headset (especially for the first time) is not the most enjoyable experience. Designers of virtual reality glasses and headsets try to make them as ergonomic and comfortable as possible, but you still need to work around the straps until they are adjusted to your facial configuration.
The correct position of the gear should not allow any ray of natural light to reach your eyes. At the same time, you should not feel pressure on any part of your head. Remember that you need to wear the headset for the entire duration of the movie – around 100 minutes.
Check Whether the Headset You Want to Buy Works with Glasses
Users who have to wear glasses all the time obviously won’t be able to put them away while watching a virtual reality movie. Various headsets, such as [amazon_textlink asin=’B00VF5NT4I’ text=’HTC VIVE’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’arpost-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’2b94cd9a-ce2a-11e7-871b-294f302130bc’] and [amazon_textlink asin=’B073X8N1YW’ text=’Oculus Rift’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’arpost-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’38faacc4-ce2a-11e7-8019-098d2acc4ff4′], appear to be comfortable to wear with glasses. However, before you decide to buy a product, check if it has adjustable lenses. This will allow you to move the lenses of the headset for a proper fit, without squeezing your glasses against your face.
The Importance of Field of View
The field of view in virtual reality goggles is the angle at which you can see the movie around you. Devices such as VIVE and Oculus have 110-degree field of view. [amazon_textlink asin=’B01L92Z8D6′ text=’Google Cardboard’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’arpost-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’4b7f6d5c-ce2a-11e7-97ff-e51d75a5e5a1′] and [amazon_textlink asin=’B01N634P7O’ text=’Daydream View’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’arpost-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’5a549405-ce2a-11e7-b5cc-095498cea369′] offer an angle of 90 degrees. Less expensive gear, made in China, are adapted to entry-level smartphones with a small screen and low resolution.
Thus, if you do not wear the adequate headset for your mobile phone or television set, you will feel like you are watching the movie through swimming goggles, with no vision to your left and right sides.
PC-Tethered vs. Mobile Headsets
Last but not least, you should decide how you prefer to watch virtual reality movies. Some virtual reality goggles and headsets can fit over your mobile phone, allowing you to watch movies wherever you want: sitting on the sofa, in bed, etc.
PC-tethered headsets need to be connected to the USB ports of your computer and will obviously limit your movement and the place where you can sit and watch the movie. On the other hand, this is a better option for watching longer movies because a mobile phone may run out of battery halfway through.
