![Demystifying Virtual Reality Headsets Explained](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/2Nx5-j78sksMyHFUnIb6ttZLjEo=/400x300/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/infralist-com-Sc1GJCninik-unsplash-f1bcfd78c44048db9748dd83ce65de89.jpg)
Demystifying Virtual Reality Headsets Explained
![](/images/site-logo.png)
Demystifying Virtual Reality Headsets Explained
What is Virtual Reality Headset?
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A Virtual Reality headset, commonly known as VR headset, refers to a device worn over the eyes like a pair of goggles for the purposes of watching VR content or when playing virtual reality video games. Most of the headsets have the ability to track the user’s head movements so that the wherever the user looks, the character in the virtual reality also looks. If done in the right manner, the headsets give an impression of the user being actually inside the game or the movie, hence the name “virtual reality”.
How does Virtual Reality headsets work
The principle goal of the virtual reality headsets is to create life-size, 3D virtual environments with no boundaries like those associated with computer or television screens. In case of the Rift or HTC’s Vive, video is sent from the computer or the console to the headset through a HDMI cable, while for the Google Cardboard or Samsung’s Gear VR, the videos are already on the smartphone mounted on the headsets.
The VR headsets may use a single feed or two feeds sent directly to either one or two LCD displays, one for each eye. There are also a set of lenses placed between the user’s eyes and the pixels and this is the reason why the devices are sometimes referred to as goggles. In some cases, the lenses can be adjusted to match the distance between the eyes and this distance will also vary from one user to another.
The lenses will focus and reshape the images for each eye before creating a stereoscopic 3D image by positioning the 2D images to portray how each of the two eyes see the world. One way in which the virtual reality headsets increases immersion is by increasing the field of view or simply how wide a picture appears. A 360 degrees display may not be convenient and most of the high end VR headsets usually use 100 or 110 degree field of views, which is usually sufficient enough to give the effects.
And for the final images to be totally convincing, the VR headsets use minimum frame rates of 60fps to do away with shuttering or make the users feel sick.
Top VR headsets overview
The race by tech giants to get their share of the virtual reality market is on and company after company is burning the midnight oil to produce the next best headset.
Below is a list of the various VR headsets currently available to purchase:
HTC Vive
HTC Vive VR headset is made in collaboration with Valve and it plugs directly into PCs and uses Valve’s humongous gaming ecosystem. The headset has over 70 sensors to allow for 360 degrees head tracking and it also boasts of a 90Hz refresh rate responsible for keeping down the latency, which in turn saves the users from suffering motions sickness. This headset is currently available for purchase from $799.
Samsung Gear VR
The Samsung Gear VR is essentially Oculus Rift lite, owing to the fact that the two companies worked on the technology together. The Gear VR uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone for the display and as the processor. The phone slots in front of the lenses and into a Micro USB slot, and uses the super AMOLED display as the screen. With the Gear, all you have to do is to slot in the phone, put on the headset and start enjoying the virtual reality experience.
Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift headset was responsible for the current hysteria in virtual reality. The Rift plugs into the computer’s USB and DVI ports and tracks the movements of the head to provide 3D displays on its stereo screens. The consumer edition of the Rift comes with a 2160 x 1200 resolution as well as a refresh rate of 90Hz. The Rift matches HTC Vive in terms of the refresh rate, but lags behind Sony’s PlayStation VR, though it is a pretty advanced VR headset in terms of the technology used.
Sony PlayStation VR
Sony has finally announced the launch date for the PlayStation VR headset and this is expected to be 13th October 2016. A new version though, was announced way back in 2015 and it featured a 5-inch LCD display of the original prototype. For the version to be released, it is expected to have a 5.7 inch OLED to allow for low persistence which will in turn translate to less motion blur. The refresh rate for Sony’s PlayStation VR has been ramped up to 120Hz, making it possible to have 120fps gaming.
Google Cardboard
Not to be left behind, Google also has a cardboard virtual reality headset. With this headset, it sounds like popping your smartphone in a cardboard container and putting it over your head for a virtual reality experience. Sounds like a joke, but you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that it works like charm and it is also low cost. If anything, the smartphone you have already has all the gyroscopic sensors as well as the positioning devices needed to track your head movements.
Since the Cardboard has grown so much in terms of popularity, Google has planned to release a better version known as Daydream. This will be a device like the Gear VR, but it has been designed to work with android phones which are currently being revamped to over better VR experiences. It is still not know when the new device will be available, but the Cardboard is retailing at $16.99 at Amazon.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A Virtual Reality headset, commonly known as VR headset, refers to a device worn over the eyes like a pair of goggles for the purposes of watching VR content or when playing virtual reality video games. Most of the headsets have the ability to track the user’s head movements so that the wherever the user looks, the character in the virtual reality also looks. If done in the right manner, the headsets give an impression of the user being actually inside the game or the movie, hence the name “virtual reality”.
How does Virtual Reality headsets work
The principle goal of the virtual reality headsets is to create life-size, 3D virtual environments with no boundaries like those associated with computer or television screens. In case of the Rift or HTC’s Vive, video is sent from the computer or the console to the headset through a HDMI cable, while for the Google Cardboard or Samsung’s Gear VR, the videos are already on the smartphone mounted on the headsets.
The VR headsets may use a single feed or two feeds sent directly to either one or two LCD displays, one for each eye. There are also a set of lenses placed between the user’s eyes and the pixels and this is the reason why the devices are sometimes referred to as goggles. In some cases, the lenses can be adjusted to match the distance between the eyes and this distance will also vary from one user to another.
The lenses will focus and reshape the images for each eye before creating a stereoscopic 3D image by positioning the 2D images to portray how each of the two eyes see the world. One way in which the virtual reality headsets increases immersion is by increasing the field of view or simply how wide a picture appears. A 360 degrees display may not be convenient and most of the high end VR headsets usually use 100 or 110 degree field of views, which is usually sufficient enough to give the effects.
And for the final images to be totally convincing, the VR headsets use minimum frame rates of 60fps to do away with shuttering or make the users feel sick.
Top VR headsets overview
The race by tech giants to get their share of the virtual reality market is on and company after company is burning the midnight oil to produce the next best headset.
Below is a list of the various VR headsets currently available to purchase:
HTC Vive
HTC Vive VR headset is made in collaboration with Valve and it plugs directly into PCs and uses Valve’s humongous gaming ecosystem. The headset has over 70 sensors to allow for 360 degrees head tracking and it also boasts of a 90Hz refresh rate responsible for keeping down the latency, which in turn saves the users from suffering motions sickness. This headset is currently available for purchase from $799.
Samsung Gear VR
The Samsung Gear VR is essentially Oculus Rift lite, owing to the fact that the two companies worked on the technology together. The Gear VR uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone for the display and as the processor. The phone slots in front of the lenses and into a Micro USB slot, and uses the super AMOLED display as the screen. With the Gear, all you have to do is to slot in the phone, put on the headset and start enjoying the virtual reality experience.
Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift headset was responsible for the current hysteria in virtual reality. The Rift plugs into the computer’s USB and DVI ports and tracks the movements of the head to provide 3D displays on its stereo screens. The consumer edition of the Rift comes with a 2160 x 1200 resolution as well as a refresh rate of 90Hz. The Rift matches HTC Vive in terms of the refresh rate, but lags behind Sony’s PlayStation VR, though it is a pretty advanced VR headset in terms of the technology used.
Sony PlayStation VR
Sony has finally announced the launch date for the PlayStation VR headset and this is expected to be 13th October 2016. A new version though, was announced way back in 2015 and it featured a 5-inch LCD display of the original prototype. For the version to be released, it is expected to have a 5.7 inch OLED to allow for low persistence which will in turn translate to less motion blur. The refresh rate for Sony’s PlayStation VR has been ramped up to 120Hz, making it possible to have 120fps gaming.
Google Cardboard
Not to be left behind, Google also has a cardboard virtual reality headset. With this headset, it sounds like popping your smartphone in a cardboard container and putting it over your head for a virtual reality experience. Sounds like a joke, but you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that it works like charm and it is also low cost. If anything, the smartphone you have already has all the gyroscopic sensors as well as the positioning devices needed to track your head movements.
Since the Cardboard has grown so much in terms of popularity, Google has planned to release a better version known as Daydream. This will be a device like the Gear VR, but it has been designed to work with android phones which are currently being revamped to over better VR experiences. It is still not know when the new device will be available, but the Cardboard is retailing at $16.99 at Amazon.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A Virtual Reality headset, commonly known as VR headset, refers to a device worn over the eyes like a pair of goggles for the purposes of watching VR content or when playing virtual reality video games. Most of the headsets have the ability to track the user’s head movements so that the wherever the user looks, the character in the virtual reality also looks. If done in the right manner, the headsets give an impression of the user being actually inside the game or the movie, hence the name “virtual reality”.
How does Virtual Reality headsets work
The principle goal of the virtual reality headsets is to create life-size, 3D virtual environments with no boundaries like those associated with computer or television screens. In case of the Rift or HTC’s Vive, video is sent from the computer or the console to the headset through a HDMI cable, while for the Google Cardboard or Samsung’s Gear VR, the videos are already on the smartphone mounted on the headsets.
The VR headsets may use a single feed or two feeds sent directly to either one or two LCD displays, one for each eye. There are also a set of lenses placed between the user’s eyes and the pixels and this is the reason why the devices are sometimes referred to as goggles. In some cases, the lenses can be adjusted to match the distance between the eyes and this distance will also vary from one user to another.
The lenses will focus and reshape the images for each eye before creating a stereoscopic 3D image by positioning the 2D images to portray how each of the two eyes see the world. One way in which the virtual reality headsets increases immersion is by increasing the field of view or simply how wide a picture appears. A 360 degrees display may not be convenient and most of the high end VR headsets usually use 100 or 110 degree field of views, which is usually sufficient enough to give the effects.
And for the final images to be totally convincing, the VR headsets use minimum frame rates of 60fps to do away with shuttering or make the users feel sick.
Top VR headsets overview
The race by tech giants to get their share of the virtual reality market is on and company after company is burning the midnight oil to produce the next best headset.
Below is a list of the various VR headsets currently available to purchase:
HTC Vive
HTC Vive VR headset is made in collaboration with Valve and it plugs directly into PCs and uses Valve’s humongous gaming ecosystem. The headset has over 70 sensors to allow for 360 degrees head tracking and it also boasts of a 90Hz refresh rate responsible for keeping down the latency, which in turn saves the users from suffering motions sickness. This headset is currently available for purchase from $799.
Samsung Gear VR
The Samsung Gear VR is essentially Oculus Rift lite, owing to the fact that the two companies worked on the technology together. The Gear VR uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone for the display and as the processor. The phone slots in front of the lenses and into a Micro USB slot, and uses the super AMOLED display as the screen. With the Gear, all you have to do is to slot in the phone, put on the headset and start enjoying the virtual reality experience.
Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift headset was responsible for the current hysteria in virtual reality. The Rift plugs into the computer’s USB and DVI ports and tracks the movements of the head to provide 3D displays on its stereo screens. The consumer edition of the Rift comes with a 2160 x 1200 resolution as well as a refresh rate of 90Hz. The Rift matches HTC Vive in terms of the refresh rate, but lags behind Sony’s PlayStation VR, though it is a pretty advanced VR headset in terms of the technology used.
Sony PlayStation VR
Sony has finally announced the launch date for the PlayStation VR headset and this is expected to be 13th October 2016. A new version though, was announced way back in 2015 and it featured a 5-inch LCD display of the original prototype. For the version to be released, it is expected to have a 5.7 inch OLED to allow for low persistence which will in turn translate to less motion blur. The refresh rate for Sony’s PlayStation VR has been ramped up to 120Hz, making it possible to have 120fps gaming.
Google Cardboard
Not to be left behind, Google also has a cardboard virtual reality headset. With this headset, it sounds like popping your smartphone in a cardboard container and putting it over your head for a virtual reality experience. Sounds like a joke, but you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that it works like charm and it is also low cost. If anything, the smartphone you have already has all the gyroscopic sensors as well as the positioning devices needed to track your head movements.
Since the Cardboard has grown so much in terms of popularity, Google has planned to release a better version known as Daydream. This will be a device like the Gear VR, but it has been designed to work with android phones which are currently being revamped to over better VR experiences. It is still not know when the new device will be available, but the Cardboard is retailing at $16.99 at Amazon.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A Virtual Reality headset, commonly known as VR headset, refers to a device worn over the eyes like a pair of goggles for the purposes of watching VR content or when playing virtual reality video games. Most of the headsets have the ability to track the user’s head movements so that the wherever the user looks, the character in the virtual reality also looks. If done in the right manner, the headsets give an impression of the user being actually inside the game or the movie, hence the name “virtual reality”.
How does Virtual Reality headsets work
The principle goal of the virtual reality headsets is to create life-size, 3D virtual environments with no boundaries like those associated with computer or television screens. In case of the Rift or HTC’s Vive, video is sent from the computer or the console to the headset through a HDMI cable, while for the Google Cardboard or Samsung’s Gear VR, the videos are already on the smartphone mounted on the headsets.
The VR headsets may use a single feed or two feeds sent directly to either one or two LCD displays, one for each eye. There are also a set of lenses placed between the user’s eyes and the pixels and this is the reason why the devices are sometimes referred to as goggles. In some cases, the lenses can be adjusted to match the distance between the eyes and this distance will also vary from one user to another.
The lenses will focus and reshape the images for each eye before creating a stereoscopic 3D image by positioning the 2D images to portray how each of the two eyes see the world. One way in which the virtual reality headsets increases immersion is by increasing the field of view or simply how wide a picture appears. A 360 degrees display may not be convenient and most of the high end VR headsets usually use 100 or 110 degree field of views, which is usually sufficient enough to give the effects.
And for the final images to be totally convincing, the VR headsets use minimum frame rates of 60fps to do away with shuttering or make the users feel sick.
Top VR headsets overview
The race by tech giants to get their share of the virtual reality market is on and company after company is burning the midnight oil to produce the next best headset.
Below is a list of the various VR headsets currently available to purchase:
HTC Vive
HTC Vive VR headset is made in collaboration with Valve and it plugs directly into PCs and uses Valve’s humongous gaming ecosystem. The headset has over 70 sensors to allow for 360 degrees head tracking and it also boasts of a 90Hz refresh rate responsible for keeping down the latency, which in turn saves the users from suffering motions sickness. This headset is currently available for purchase from $799.
Samsung Gear VR
The Samsung Gear VR is essentially Oculus Rift lite, owing to the fact that the two companies worked on the technology together. The Gear VR uses a Samsung Galaxy smartphone for the display and as the processor. The phone slots in front of the lenses and into a Micro USB slot, and uses the super AMOLED display as the screen. With the Gear, all you have to do is to slot in the phone, put on the headset and start enjoying the virtual reality experience.
Oculus Rift
Oculus Rift headset was responsible for the current hysteria in virtual reality. The Rift plugs into the computer’s USB and DVI ports and tracks the movements of the head to provide 3D displays on its stereo screens. The consumer edition of the Rift comes with a 2160 x 1200 resolution as well as a refresh rate of 90Hz. The Rift matches HTC Vive in terms of the refresh rate, but lags behind Sony’s PlayStation VR, though it is a pretty advanced VR headset in terms of the technology used.
Sony PlayStation VR
Sony has finally announced the launch date for the PlayStation VR headset and this is expected to be 13th October 2016. A new version though, was announced way back in 2015 and it featured a 5-inch LCD display of the original prototype. For the version to be released, it is expected to have a 5.7 inch OLED to allow for low persistence which will in turn translate to less motion blur. The refresh rate for Sony’s PlayStation VR has been ramped up to 120Hz, making it possible to have 120fps gaming.
Google Cardboard
Not to be left behind, Google also has a cardboard virtual reality headset. With this headset, it sounds like popping your smartphone in a cardboard container and putting it over your head for a virtual reality experience. Sounds like a joke, but you will be pleasantly surprised to learn that it works like charm and it is also low cost. If anything, the smartphone you have already has all the gyroscopic sensors as well as the positioning devices needed to track your head movements.
Since the Cardboard has grown so much in terms of popularity, Google has planned to release a better version known as Daydream. This will be a device like the Gear VR, but it has been designed to work with android phones which are currently being revamped to over better VR experiences. It is still not know when the new device will be available, but the Cardboard is retailing at $16.99 at Amazon.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Also read:
- A Complete Breakdown of Color Tuning Methods
- Avoiding Malware While Securing Free & Safe VLC Download on macOS
- The Ultimate Guide to Magix Mixcraft's Features
- In 2024, ChronoCapture Expert Time-Lapse Techniques for Samsung Users
- Sharpen Your Viewing Experience Mastering Camera Focus Online
- Charting the Evolutionary Trajectory of Mixed Reality
- In 2024, Action Seeker's Dream The Ultimate Review of SJ-CAM S6
- 2024 Approved Concealed Viewers' Guide to Instagram Live Broadcasting Without Attention
- Mastering Facebook's Potential in Health Marketing
- Craft Compelling Openers for Your Podcast Episodes Examples & Tips for 2024
- AudioAlert Essentials Downloading & Editing Tamil Melodies
- [New] Comparative Review of Premium Streaming Services
- Step-by-Step Guide Activate or Deactivate Picture-in-Picture on Apple's YouTube App
- Harmony Match Maker
- In 2024, Copyright Conduct for Instagram Artists
- [New] Accelerate Your Photo Edits Expert LunaPic Techniques
- The Essential Guide to Mastering YouTube Video Content Structure with Chapters
- SeamlessiPhone/Desktop Video Editing Top 8 Software Recommendations
- The Smartest Way to Edit Videos Top 10 Zoom Editors
- [Updated] Adding Value with Recommendations
- Elite Wearables for High-Intensity Sports
- Leading 15 Voice-Media Hosts & Hubs
- Harnessing the Power of Quality Photography Without a Price Tag
- Twitch Time Rewind Hacks Unveiled
- Unveiling YouTube's Features Adding Images to Videos
- [New] Apple Music Integration for High-Fidelity Videos
- [New] Best Choice Avi Player with Multiplatform Support
- 2024 Approved A Comprehensive Guide Accumulating Massive Amounts of TikTok Videos
- Screenplay Genius Weaving Compelling Narratives and Dialogues
- Quick Connectivity IPhone Images to Windows
- 2024 Approved Adobe Memefixer A Humorous Journey
- '3DR' The Path Taken by a Lone Printer Explorer for 2024
- Leveraging PIP for Multitasking in Edge Browser
- Selective Alarm Tones Optimal Websites List
- [Updated] Best Practices for Stream Backgrounds
- [Updated] Become an Audio Trailblazer – Exclusive Vocal Change Techniques in Free Fire (Free)
- [Updated] 10 Sci-Fi VR Adventures Unveiling Distant Realities
- 2024 Approved Brand Expression Made Simple Affordable Personalized Logo Templates (Free)
- [New] Accurate Ranking Top 10 Gratuitous Srt File Tools
- AI-Powered VR Retail Navigation
- [New] Capture the Catch 5 Pro-Fish Cameras Unveiled
- In 2024, Comprehensive Guide to Trusted Sites for Youtube Tones
- Analyzing Hero5 Black & Yi 4K Cameras for Modern Adventurers
- HP’s Visionary Color Display Dissecting the Z32X Monitor
- VR Today & Tomorrow Trends & Hurdles
- [Updated] In 2024, Master the Art of Live Streaming Utilizing OBS for YouTube & Twitch
- [Updated] 2024 Approved Top Strategies for Livestream & Archiving Sports Action
- [Updated] In 2024, Ultimate Screen Capture Review OBS vs Fraps
- [New] Unlocking Viewership Steps for Your Video to Be a Top Pick on Vimeo
- Updated Stop Motion Made Easy A Beginners Guide to Getting Started for 2024
- Next-Gen Audio Data Organizer The Ultimate Tagging App for Windows & Mac Users,
- In 2024, Bypassing Google Account With vnROM Bypass For Vivo V27
- How to Remove Find My iPhone without Apple ID On your iPhone 11 Pro Max?
- All Must-Knows to Use Fake GPS GO Location Spoofer On Lava Storm 5G | Dr.fone
- Best Video Repair tool to Fix and Repair Corrupt MP4,MOV,AVI video files of Vivo Y17s
- In 2024, How to Screen Share Mac to Apple iPhone 14 Plus? | Dr.fone
- Composing Accompaniment for Film Scenes for 2024
- How to Reset a Realme Note 50 Phone that is Locked?
- In 2024, A Working Guide For Pachirisu Pokemon Go Map On Tecno Camon 20 Pro 5G | Dr.fone
- [New] Vibe of the Town Top 20 Viral TikTok Rap Songs to Follow for 2024
- Updated Cacophony of Cheer Tracking Impactful Sound Waves for 2024
- [Updated] Rapid Pause Video Snapshot Manual for 2024
- [Updated] Quick Mac Mastering Screen Recording via Shortcuts for 2024
- In 2024, Prime FB Extra Tools Enhanced Firefox Version Compatibility
- Rankings Desktop Software for Recording Screens
- Where Is the Best Place to Catch Dratini On Nokia C22 | Dr.fone
- Updated Send Local Videos to Chromecast Easy Setup for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS for 2024
- In 2024, How To Bypass the Required Apple Store Verification For iPhone 6s
- How To Transfer WhatsApp From iPhone 12 to others devices? | Dr.fone
- How To Open Your Apple iPhone 13 mini Without a Home Button | Dr.fone
- New Top 16 Best Free AVI Video Rotators Windows, MAC, Android, iPhone, An
- Cut, Edit, and Share The Best Free Open-Source Video Editors for 2024
- [Updated] In 2024, Transforming Discord Communication Best Audio Modification Plugins of 2023
- 7 Fixes for Unfortunately, Phone Has Stopped on Vivo Y100 5G | Dr.fone
- The Ultimate Fraps Experience for Game Capture
- New In 2024, Decibel Detachment Advanced Audio Editing Methods for Clearing Vocal Frequencies in Music
- Infinix Data Retrieval tool – restore lost data from Infinix Hot 30i
- Updated In 2024, Zero-Cost Video Watermarking Top 5 Software Choices
- Updated 2024 Approved How to Make GIFs From Videos on Mac
- How To Fix Unresponsive Phone Touchscreen Of Samsung Galaxy F14 5G | Dr.fone
- Title: Demystifying Virtual Reality Headsets Explained
- Author: Mark
- Created at : 2024-05-24 07:58:23
- Updated at : 2024-05-25 07:58:23
- Link: https://extra-lessons.techidaily.com/demystifying-virtual-reality-headsets-explained/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.