Over the last few years, VR technology has become more prevalent due to more affordable options. Needless to say, the industry has come a long way since the days of failed VR tech, such as the Nintendo Virtual Boy system. As the technology continues to evolve, the developer of Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2 looks to help keep players and those around them safe while using motion controls with VR.
The Oculus Quest was released in May of 2019. Developed by Facebook, the headset looked to bring a more affordable virtual reality option to gamers. Only a year later, a successor to the Oculus Quest, the Oculus Quest 2, was launched by the company. This new version of the VR headset improved on the VR model while selling at an even lower price point. Due to these perks, both of these Facebook-developed VR headsets sold well. Recently, a new update became available for the systems, enhancing several aspects of the software.
As part of version 34 of the Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2’s software, users received a number of new improvements to the system. Amongst these new additions, the developer announced a new feature intended to minimize the risks of using motion controls in VR by keeping players more aware of their surroundings. Known as Space Sense, this new tool is meant to work in conjunction with the Guardian system to keep players from inadvertently damaging property or harming people and pets.
This is a useful addition to the Oculus Quest series of headsets as it helps players feel more secure when playing games on the platform. Oculus Quest already had support for the Guardian feature, which marks a safe play perimeter for players. However, this doesn’t account for possible children or pets that might wander into the area. While using the Space Sense feature, people, pets, and other objects will be highlighted with a pink glow if they come within 9 feet of the user. Equipping Space Sense is easy, as players only need to access the Experimental Features section in the system settings.
In addition to Space Sense, this new update for Oculus Quest brings several other features to the platform. With the release of this update, players can use various new voice commands to control system menus. The developer added the ability to view Android app notifications while in VR as well. Furthermore, a type of augmented reality experience is now available to users through Passthrough API.
Besides this news regarding Space Sense for the Oculus Quest, the developer also announced that it would be making it easier to use the platform moving forward. Recently, the company revealed that Facebook accounts would no longer be required to use these VR devices.
Source: Oculus