Virtual Reality is all the rage these days, but those fancy VR headsets come with a pretty hefty price tag. So what is a person who wants to experience virtual reality but can't afford the latest tech to do? Just strap your phone to your face, of course.
Or at least that is what a new Kickstarter project is recommending. Called AirVR, the "device" is basically a fancy pair of goggles with an adjustable strap, along with a few other VR-specific additions. Users can snap their iPad Mini, iPad Mini with Retina or new iPhone 6 + into AirVR and poof! Instant virtual reality. I think.
"Virtual Reality is finally within our reach. But cost, availability, and a lack of content have kept it from becoming a part of everyday life, until now," reads the Kickstarter page.
So what does AirVR actually get you besides the ability to strap a screen directly onto your face? Once again, taken from the product's Kickstarter page:
"By using the front-facing camera in conjunction with printable AR markers, we can move freely in a virtual environment using accurate head tracking without the need for an external camera or additional hardware. This gives AirVR high quality positional tracking capable of accurately locating a user's position and orientation within a space, while remaining mobile and low cost. And by using the camera feed, users can also see what's in front of them, opening the door for high fidelity AR applications. This level of accuracy and integration is vital for making the most immersive VR experiences possible."
AirVR also looks to include VR apps for photos and movies, and will also be compatible with the Unity 3D game engine, allowing developers to easily optimize for and support AirVR.
This is all well and great, but I feel like I'm missing something. Do people really want to strap an iPad to their face on the go? Does nobody see how completely ridiculous this looks? Come on, look at this guy.
If nothing else, it is at least cost effective. Backing AirVR right now will let you snag the product for $49 plus shipping. The fundraising goal for the Kickstarter is $20,000 Canadian dollars, and so far they've raised more than $8,000, with still almost a month left to go.
