"No VR, no buy" has become a staple of new sim racing release reviews. Even F1 22 now offers the, to some, elusive technology. But I'm really not about that. I'm in for the (hopefully) next hardware development. Mixed Reality.
Almost a year ago, Yannik Haustein asked the question: "What Do You Think Is The Next Big Hardware Development?"
And my answer is: "I don't know, but I wish it were Mixed Reality!"
So let's explore this mythical world.
Well, there's 1 simple problem with VR for me: I cannot actually see what my hands are doing. I wanna see where my fingers are; which button I'm pressing on the wheel or button box (aka 2nd keyboard).
I want to see.
I want more immersion.
And I know it's possible. See it as a free business Idea. I just don't know if it's a good business idea.
Now while some of you might know this channel already, if you don't, here's a quick run-down.
The channel owner, a German man by the name of Marcel Pfister, edits recordings of himself doing VR racing. All the while he sits surrounded by a green screen and later edits the VR surroundings into the video.
Now here's the deal: I want that. But REALLY working.
The theory is simple: Have a VR headset with cameras in front. The cameras just project the images they capture, excluding the green screen. That would be live projected with the interior of the car.
Sounds simple, right?
And the, quite frankly, deflating truth of my thought process is:
Not very big, at least in the home-usage sector.
Commercially it could be used for driver training lessons or the like. So the potential users would be every vehicle driver.
But in the home sector, can you think of more examples of usage than, say, sim racing and Farming Simulator?
I can't. (But if you can, let us know in the comments, please.)
And a lack of possible monetary reimbursement automatically means a lack of investment. Sad, but what can you do?
And that could fulfil the wish (hopefully) not only I have. The (possibly) most immersive sim rig ever:
Almost a year ago, Yannik Haustein asked the question: "What Do You Think Is The Next Big Hardware Development?"
And my answer is: "I don't know, but I wish it were Mixed Reality!"
So let's explore this mythical world.
Why We Need Mixed Reality
Some of you might be asking: "But why?"Well, there's 1 simple problem with VR for me: I cannot actually see what my hands are doing. I wanna see where my fingers are; which button I'm pressing on the wheel or button box (aka 2nd keyboard).
I want to see.
I want more immersion.
And I know it's possible. See it as a free business Idea. I just don't know if it's a good business idea.
How it Could Work
Mixed Reality as a theoretical concept in sim racing has been around for a while now. I mean, just look at this video from 2016!Now while some of you might know this channel already, if you don't, here's a quick run-down.
The channel owner, a German man by the name of Marcel Pfister, edits recordings of himself doing VR racing. All the while he sits surrounded by a green screen and later edits the VR surroundings into the video.
Now here's the deal: I want that. But REALLY working.
The theory is simple: Have a VR headset with cameras in front. The cameras just project the images they capture, excluding the green screen. That would be live projected with the interior of the car.
Sounds simple, right?
Why It's Not That Simple
But it isn't. Every new development needs time and money. And the question would be, how big is the market for this?And the, quite frankly, deflating truth of my thought process is:
Not very big, at least in the home-usage sector.
Commercially it could be used for driver training lessons or the like. So the potential users would be every vehicle driver.
But in the home sector, can you think of more examples of usage than, say, sim racing and Farming Simulator?
I can't. (But if you can, let us know in the comments, please.)
And a lack of possible monetary reimbursement automatically means a lack of investment. Sad, but what can you do?
What YOU Can Do
Now let me be a bit selfish for a second. I know this is my wish and all, but if I have sparked your interest in mixed reality, just spread the word. If enough people wish for it, sooner or later, someone will invest R&D into this field.And that could fulfil the wish (hopefully) not only I have. The (possibly) most immersive sim rig ever:
- Motion Rig
- Green Screen
- Mixed Reality
