What is a virtual reality headset?

A virtual reality headset is a head-mounted device that immerses the wearer in virtual reality. VR headsets (Virtual Reality) are widely used for video games, but they’re also used in other applications, including simulators and training tools. A VR headset consists of a stereoscopic head-mounted display – which shows separate images to each eye – stereo sound and sensors that track head movement. Some VR headsets also have eye-tracking sensors and game controllers.

The origins of the VR headset

In 2012, a crowdfunding campaign was launched for the VR headset known as the "Oculus Rift". This project was led by several leading video game developers. In March 2014, the project’s parent company "Oculus VR" was acquired by Facebook for 2 billion dollars. The latest consumer-focused release of Oculus Rift started shipping on 28 March 2016.
In March 2014, Sony showed a prototype headset demo for the PlayStation 4, which was later called PlayStation VR and released in October 2016. With this headset, users could navigate and interact in "space" in a natural way.
Virtual reality headsets have also been designed for smartphones. Unlike headsets with integrated displays, these units are essentially housings into which you insert a smartphone. VR content is viewed on the device’s own screen through lenses that act as a stereoscope instead of using dedicated internal displays.
Google has released a set of specs and corresponding DIY kits for virtual reality viewers known as Google Cardboard; these viewers can be made from cheap materials such as cardboard (hence the name).
Samsung Electronics partnered with Oculus VR to develop the Samsung Gear VR, while LG Electronics created a headset with dedicated displays for the LG G5 smartphone, known as LG 360 VR. Asian hardware manufacturers such as Xion and Kolke have also developed low-cost virtual reality headsets over time.

Specific VR features

Virtual reality headsets have much stricter latency requirements – the time between an input change and the resulting visual effect – than standard video games. If the system responds too slowly to head movements, the user can experience virtual reality sickness, a kind of motion sickness.
The graphics processing unit (GPU) also has to be more powerful to render frames more frequently. Oculus cited the limited processing power of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as the reason they focused their first devices on the PC gaming market.
Because VR headsets stretch a single display across a wide field of view (up to 110° for some devices), the magnification factor makes flaws in display technology more noticeable. One issue is the so-called screen door effect, where the gaps between rows and columns of pixels become visible, similar to looking through a mesh screen. This was especially noticeable in early prototypes and development kits with lower resolutions than the retail versions. By now, the technology has been refined and improved to such an extent that the quality and experience of using a VR headset can really be called superb.

Lenses

The headset’s lenses map the close-up display into a wide field of view while also providing a more comfortable focal point further away. The challenge here is ensuring a consistent focal distance. Because your eyes are free to move around inside the headset, it’s important to avoid having to constantly refocus, which can cause eye strain.
Many manufacturers have tried different types of lenses, but a lot of them use Fresnel lenses. These lenses don’t use multiple pieces of material like some other lens types; instead, the lens is split into sections, giving you a wider field of view. The downside is that you can see the lens edges when the headset isn’t properly aligned on your head.

Controllers

Virtual reality was used on Nintendo’s Wii console, where the player used a controller to interact with the game of their choice, often sports games. Shortly after the Wii was released, Microsoft’s Xbox got a full-body tracking system called Kinect, and Sony’s PlayStation received a similar virtual reality device called PlayStation Move. These gaming devices use virtual reality to control avatars in a game, with the player’s movements copied by the avatar to complete the game. This means the player isn’t actually fully immersed in the virtual reality world.

Medical training

Virtual reality headsets are also currently being used to train medical students for surgery. They allow students to perform essential procedures in a virtual, controlled environment. Students operate on virtual patients, helping them acquire the skills needed to perform surgery on real patients. It also allows students to revisit procedures from the lead surgeon’s perspective.

Where can you buy a virtual reality headset?

As you’ve read above, the VR headset has already been developed to a high level and is used for all kinds of purposes, with people being very positive about using it. But where do you buy a virtual reality headset, and which one is best for you? First read the article “Beste Virtual Reality Bril Top 5” (Best Virtual Reality Headset Top 5) and then place your order at Bol.com or Coolblue.nl, the best-known and most visited websites that sell VR headsets. You can also find more information about the products there, read reviews from other buyers and benefit from their return policies. That’s why these websites are recommended places to order your VR headset.