HTC Vive resource for new users:
Virtual reality has finally made the leap from the pages of science fiction to homes across the world, as the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and other headsets have all hit the market. The Vive in particular provides an incredible, immersive experience — but as one might expect from such a radical new device, there is a learning curve.
Once you’ve spent the money necessary to acquire a Vive you’ll want to get the most out of your new toy, so here are some tips and tricks to help you master the Vive and traverse virtual landscapes with ease.
Keep the headset clean
Anyone who has had friends over to play video games has probably picked up a controller afterwards only to recoil in disgust at a layer of grease on the device. Hands are a great transmitter of oils and germs (thank goodness most people tend to wash them at least semi-frequently). The Vive comes into frequent contact with another part of the body that’s dirtier than most people think: the human face.
If you plan to let other people use your headset, it’s a good idea to keep the thing clean. One way to keep the Vive clean is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place. A company called VR Cover makes covers for the HTC Vive; they’re designed to keep dirt and skin off the headset much like a pillowcase protects a pillow. The covers come in a variety of materials, including cloth and leather, and are machine-washable. I personally have two sets of these and I would never be without them, they are great. 10/10 little P recommendation!
If buying a cover for the Vive seems excessive to you, a little manual cleaning should suffice. To start, remove the face cushion: Grab its two ends and peel them until the cushion comes off. To clean the cushion, HTC suggests using a cloth — such as the one included with the Vive — dampened with water. If you are really worried about disinfecting the face cushion, gently wiping it down with baby wipes should work as well.
Either way, let the cushion dry out in the air. The lenses are just as easy to clean, although they are also fragile, so it’s important to be gentle. Use a damp cloth and wipe in a circular motion moving from the center of each lens outward.
USE LIGHT STANDS TO MOUNT THE BASE STATIONS
One of the biggest obstacles for new Vive users is setting up a space to use it. In addition to clearing out a space to walk around in, users will also need to place the base stations (which track movement in the play area) at least six feet off the ground.
While there are many ways to do this, including wall mounting which I have done some have found light stands — such as those used for photography — to be a convenient tool. The base stations can screw into the ¼-inch mount, and light stands not only offer height but are easy to move around if need be.
PURCHASE A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES
The visuals on the Vive can be awe inspiring, but sight is only one part of an immersive VR experience. To really sink into a virtual world, sound is crucial. The Vive does come with a pair of earbuds, but users wanting a greater range of sound will have to provide their own headphones.
For gaming, open-back headphones are generally considered better, as they provide a better sound stage, allowing users to discern the direction and placement of sounds. This seems particularly important for virtual reality, where the placement of sounds, or lack thereof, could make or break the experience.
After three different sets of headphones I bought and returned I settled on the Logitech Artemis G933 wireless headphones. They are perfect for the Vive.
UTILIZE THE CAMERA FOR CHAPERONE MODE
If grids are a little boring for your tastes, or if you want to have a clearer view of the objects in your space, you can use the camera to see objects around you through the Chaperone system. To do this, open the dashboard and choose Camera, then check the box labeled Use Camera for Chaperone Bounds.
Now when you approach objects in the play area, instead of seeing a grid you will see outlines of the objects the camera can see.
This is useful if you want to grab a particular object — say, a coffee cup on your desk — without taking the headset off. From an aesthetic standpoint, it also looks pretty cool.
Virtual reality has finally made the leap from the pages of science fiction to homes across the world, as the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and other headsets have all hit the market. The Vive in particular provides an incredible, immersive experience — but as one might expect from such a radical new device, there is a learning curve.
Once you’ve spent the money necessary to acquire a Vive you’ll want to get the most out of your new toy, so here are some tips and tricks to help you master the Vive and traverse virtual landscapes with ease.
Keep the headset clean
Anyone who has had friends over to play video games has probably picked up a controller afterwards only to recoil in disgust at a layer of grease on the device. Hands are a great transmitter of oils and germs (thank goodness most people tend to wash them at least semi-frequently). The Vive comes into frequent contact with another part of the body that’s dirtier than most people think: the human face.
If you plan to let other people use your headset, it’s a good idea to keep the thing clean. One way to keep the Vive clean is to keep it from getting dirty in the first place. A company called VR Cover makes covers for the HTC Vive; they’re designed to keep dirt and skin off the headset much like a pillowcase protects a pillow. The covers come in a variety of materials, including cloth and leather, and are machine-washable. I personally have two sets of these and I would never be without them, they are great. 10/10 little P recommendation!
If buying a cover for the Vive seems excessive to you, a little manual cleaning should suffice. To start, remove the face cushion: Grab its two ends and peel them until the cushion comes off. To clean the cushion, HTC suggests using a cloth — such as the one included with the Vive — dampened with water. If you are really worried about disinfecting the face cushion, gently wiping it down with baby wipes should work as well.
Either way, let the cushion dry out in the air. The lenses are just as easy to clean, although they are also fragile, so it’s important to be gentle. Use a damp cloth and wipe in a circular motion moving from the center of each lens outward.
USE LIGHT STANDS TO MOUNT THE BASE STATIONS
One of the biggest obstacles for new Vive users is setting up a space to use it. In addition to clearing out a space to walk around in, users will also need to place the base stations (which track movement in the play area) at least six feet off the ground.
While there are many ways to do this, including wall mounting which I have done some have found light stands — such as those used for photography — to be a convenient tool. The base stations can screw into the ¼-inch mount, and light stands not only offer height but are easy to move around if need be.
PURCHASE A GOOD PAIR OF HEADPHONES
The visuals on the Vive can be awe inspiring, but sight is only one part of an immersive VR experience. To really sink into a virtual world, sound is crucial. The Vive does come with a pair of earbuds, but users wanting a greater range of sound will have to provide their own headphones.
For gaming, open-back headphones are generally considered better, as they provide a better sound stage, allowing users to discern the direction and placement of sounds. This seems particularly important for virtual reality, where the placement of sounds, or lack thereof, could make or break the experience.
After three different sets of headphones I bought and returned I settled on the Logitech Artemis G933 wireless headphones. They are perfect for the Vive.
UTILIZE THE CAMERA FOR CHAPERONE MODE
If grids are a little boring for your tastes, or if you want to have a clearer view of the objects in your space, you can use the camera to see objects around you through the Chaperone system. To do this, open the dashboard and choose Camera, then check the box labeled Use Camera for Chaperone Bounds.
Now when you approach objects in the play area, instead of seeing a grid you will see outlines of the objects the camera can see.
This is useful if you want to grab a particular object — say, a coffee cup on your desk — without taking the headset off. From an aesthetic standpoint, it also looks pretty cool.
