Today I tried a new technology called WebVR. According to WebVR.info:
WebVR is an experimental Javascript API that provides access to Virtual Reality devices, such as the Oculus Rift or Google Cardboard, in your browser.
It tries to provide a uniform interface for all sorts of VR headsets such as Oculus Rift DK2, Google Cardboard together, for a uniform experience.
Explorer
First, you can use both Chrome and Firefox to experience WebVR. (Microsoft is left behind again, just as WebGL)
- Chrome
- Click the above link, use 7-zip to decompress all files, run chrome.exe if you are in Windows.
- Type in the address bar: chrome://flags
- Ctrl+F: Find webvr, enable it
- You are ready to go! Run mozvr.com for testing.
- Firefox
SDK
After installation, you should make sure your Oculus SDK and Runtime Environment is the latest one (I was making this mistake when trying). Download here.
If you have a CardBoard, you can go straight ahead to vr.chromeexperiments.com for experience.
Development
Personally, I suggest using WebGL, three.js together with WebVR. There are two great examples:
Tutorial
I suggest watching the following video tutorials by Tony Parisi:
I believe WebVR will be the future for most light-weighted graphical applications. We do need a uniform interface for all sorts of VR devices upcoming to the market. (just like the interfaces that Windows provides for different devices, is Microsoft left behind again? Or is HoloLens to be the future?)
That’s it. I’ll write more when I’ve done my project.
