The easiest and cheapest way to immerse yourself in the virtual world is to use virtual reality glasses for smartphones. Today you can easily purchase both a very inexpensive cardboard model and an advanced VR helmet with a bunch of different settings. How to choose and configure VR glasses? How to check compatibility and choose the right smartphone? In this article we will look at all these issues in detail.
What are VR glasses and virtual reality
Virtual reality (artificial reality, English virtual reality, VR) is an artificial world created by software, demonstrated to a person using technical devices through his senses: vision, hearing, touch, smell. In virtual reality, it is possible to control the actions of a character, move objects, and receive feedback from what is happening.
Virtual reality glasses ( VR BOX) are a VR helmet that is placed on the viewer’s head and transports him to the virtual world. This could be a game in which you need to fight zombies, a virtual tour of a museum, or something else. It’s not for nothing that the technology was called virtual reality; it creates a complete sense of presence. Without leaving your home, you can visit anywhere in the world or find yourself in an imaginary world.
Virtual reality glasses for smartphone
Why do you need VR glasses for a smartphone?
The VR helmet must have a display that shows the image. In the case of a phone, the gadget itself plays the role of the screen. The smartphone is installed in the VR Box, and in total it becomes a device for demonstrating the virtual world. How do virtual reality glasses work? To answer this question, consider their design and principle of operation.
How VR glasses for phones work
To create a virtual reality helmet you will need:
- VR Box for smartphone.
- Smartphone.
- Installing software - application or game.
Let's see how a virtual reality helmet for a mobile phone works:
VR glasses device for phone
Essential elements:
- The slot for installing a phone is located at the farthest part from the eyes. Has fastenings for secure fixation of the gadget.
- Lenses – designed to focus vision on the screen. This detail is necessary because the display is located close to the eyes. There is no way to concentrate your gaze without lenses.
- Housing – prevents light and the appearance of foreign objects from entering the field of view. In simpler models it may be absent.
- Face pad and head mount – for easy fixation on the head. These elements may also not be present in simple models. In this case, the glasses are simply pressed to the face with your hands.
So, the phone is mounted in front of the eyes, and the lenses focus the gaze on the display. The screen displays an image in VR format, which is divided into two parts - for the left and right eyes.
VR viewing mode on a smartphone
Thanks to the design feature, each eye sees only the image intended for it. The human brain processes the information received from each eye and combines it into one image. Thanks to this, a stereoscopic effect is created. We get the same result when watching 3D films in a cinema. Only there the separation of images for the eyes is achieved through filters in 3D glasses.
Interaction with the world of virtual reality occurs through the phone’s built-in sensors - a gyroscope and an accelerometer. Therefore, when you turn or tilt your head, the image in vr glasses moves in the same direction. This gives an additional sense of reality.
Some models of glasses have a functional button that allows you to perform an action - start a game, fire a shot, pause a video. If there is no such button, you can connect a bluetooth remote control or joystick to your phone.
HTC Vive Cosmos
HTC Vive Cosmos is put on in almost the same way: first you need to completely loosen the fastening belt by rotating the disk counterclockwise, you need to remove the protective film from it. You need to pull the strap up, then press the eyepieces to your eyes until the image becomes clear. Then pull the strap down until you hear a click, but make sure the cable is not caught between the strap and your head. The eyepieces should be pointed straight ahead.
How to choose virtual reality glasses for your smartphone
When choosing vr glasses, first of all you need to pay attention to the supported screen size (diagonal length in inches). In other words, which smartphone will fit into this vr box. Some glasses models are made for specific mobile phones. In this case, they can only be used with one phone model.
There are many offers on the market; our review of the most popular virtual reality glasses for smartphones will help you choose the right model.
Many VR helmets are universal and have the ability to adjust the mount to a given display diagonal. In most cases, a screen size of 4-5.7 inches is suitable. This range makes it possible to use many popular phones.
Universal VR glasses for phones
Otherwise, the functionality of VR glasses is selected to suit your own needs. It can be:
- Built-in acoustics or the ability to connect your own headphones.
- Various smartphone mounts.
- Options for adjusting glasses (more on this below).
- Availability of control buttons.
- Other design features.
By the way, VR glasses like Cardboard from Google can be made independently from cardboard using a template.
Which phone is suitable for VR - tips for choosing
Let us immediately note that all popular operating systems are suitable - Android, iOS, Windows Mobile. When choosing a smartphone, you should pay great attention to the display and the presence of the necessary sensors. A good display is an indicator of a high-quality image when viewing VR content. What should the screen be like?
- The larger the display, the larger the field of view in virtual reality glasses. Just don’t forget about the maximum permissible diagonal size of your VR box.
- The screen resolution must be high. The higher the number of pixels, the less you will notice annoying squares when viewing. A display resolution of 1920×1080 pixels or higher is desirable.
| Phone settings | Optimal VR compatibility | Normal VR compatibility |
| Screen diagonal | 5-5.7 inches | 4-5.7 inches |
| Screen resolution | 1080×1920 (full HD) and higher | 720x1280 (HD) |
| CPU | Quad-core 1.6 GHz and higher | Testing required |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Accelerometer, Gyroscope |
Table of optimal smartphone parameters to support VR mode
If only image quality depends on the quality of the screen, then without the necessary sensors, a smartphone is not at all suitable for use in VR mode. What sensors are needed?
- A gyroscope is a device for measuring the angle of inclination relative to three planes.
- An accelerometer is a sensor that measures apparent acceleration. The device signals the smartphone system that it is moving and in what position it is currently located.
Without an accelerometer and gyroscope, the gadget will not be able to track its position in space, which means it will not be possible to read head movement in virtual reality glasses.
How to check your smartphone for virtual reality compatibility
Most likely you already have a touchscreen phone, all that remains is to check whether it is suitable for use with VR glasses or not. To do this, you can use a special application. To find such a program, you need to go to the Play Market (Android) or App Store (iOS - iPhone) and enter the query “VR test” in the search bar. As a result, you will see a range of applications to check compatibility. For example, let’s install the “VR Checker” program on Android.
The operation of the application is extremely simple; after launching, it will automatically perform an analysis and show the result:
Checking your phone for virtual reality compatibility
- Operating system version;
- Display size;
- Screen resolution;
- Availability of necessary sensors.
For testing we used a Xiaomi Redmi 4 pro phone. Even this completely new model produces optimal results.
If the result of your check is positive, you can safely begin choosing suitable VR glasses for your phone.
How to use VR glasses for your phone
If you already have virtual reality glasses for your smartphone, you just need to follow a few simple steps:
- Download the VR application on your mobile and launch it.
- Place the smartphone in the VR helmet so that the central partition of the glasses is exactly in the middle of the screen. In many applications, special markup appears when launched to facilitate this process.
- Configure your phone for a specific model of VR glasses.
- Set up vr glasses.
- Place the glasses on your head and play.
How to set up a smartphone for virtual reality
Most often you won’t need to set up VR on your phone; you can play and use applications right away. Some programs have the ability to adjust the projection to different models of VR glasses. For example, the Carboard app will require you to specify your version of glasses. Everything happens automatically. To do this, you need to scan the QR code located on the VR box body or in the instructions for use. If there is no code, you can try to find it on the manufacturer's website. After scanning the QR code, all settings will be applied automatically, they are only necessary for Google virtual reality applications.
Example of a QR code for setting up VR on your phone
There is no need to establish a connection between the VR glasses and the smartphone; in fact, they are just a mount for the smartphone on the head. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about how to connect virtual reality glasses to your phone.
How to set up VR glasses
If your VR Box does not have customization options, you can skip this step. In most universal VR glasses, you can use wheels and levers to configure:
Setting up virtual reality glasses for a smartphone
- Distance between lenses.
- Focal length - moving the phone mount or lens forward/backward.
- Changing diopters for different levels of vision.
- Adjusting the head mount.
With these simple steps you can easily adjust virtual reality glasses to your anatomical features.
How to connect a bluetooth gamepad or remote control to VR glasses
You can connect a bluetooth joystick or remote control to your phone. This will make navigation in VR mode much easier. For example, in the player to watch 360 video, you can pause and rewind the video. And in some games, the remote control is simply necessary to perform a number of actions.
Bluetooth remote control for smartphone control in VR mode
Connecting a gamepad is no different from adding any other Bluetooth device. To do this, go to the Bluetooth settings in your mobile, click search for new devices and select the one you need from the list. After pairing, the remote control can be used in VR games and applications.
HTC VIVE Pro
Each helmet in the HTC model line requires its own settings. The company made sure that the software installation process was as simple as possible. The Vive website has a separate page for customizing the headset and accessories. To begin with, you will need to download the VIVE application, after which, already in it, you will need to select a specific device.
Next you need to do the following:
- Select a location to install base stations. The stations help the helmet and controllers track the player's location. They need to be mounted on the wall, on racks or clothespins, in opposite corners at an optimal height of 2 meters. The viewing angle of the base stations should cover the entire playing area. Considering that the angle is 120°, it is better to place the stations at a distance of about 5 meters. And be sure to make sure that the base stations can see each other without obstacles or connect them with a wire.
- Read the instructions and download software for Vive and Steam from the official website.
- The SteamVR app itself will show you how much you can move around the room: step right and left, back and forth, or just stand.
- That's it, Vive headsets require no additional calibration and controllers come pre-charged. It is recommended to play with your back to the PC so that the wires do not get in the way.
Vive Wireless Adapter
The adapter connects to the helmet, receiving data from the PC via a radio channel. It consists of a PCIe WiGig card and a special module. They need to be installed on the computer and helmet.
PCIe WiGig requires careful handling because it contains fragile components. Installation is performed on the PC unplugged. If the computer was running before, it needs to be allowed to cool. It is advisable to carry out installation while wearing a grounded antistatic wrist strap.
Holding the board by its edges, you need to insert it into the PCI slot on the motherboard, then put on the system unit cover and connect the PC to the network.
After installing the board, the cable of the wireless communication module is connected to it. It is inserted into the hole on the board, then you need to turn the connector clockwise. A special clamp allows you to secure the communication module; most often it is placed on a computer monitor. The height must be at least 125 cm, and the distance from the playing area must be at least 150 cm.
Before putting on the HTC Vive Pro helmet, you need to remove the protective film from the eyepieces and loosen the headphones by turning the adjuster counterclockwise. The helmet is pressed against the eyes so that there are no gaps left, and then the mount is moved and adjusted to size using the same adjusters. The headphones need to be positioned in a way that is convenient for you, then pressed and secured. The cable should pass through the clamp and hang exactly along the back.
The helmet can be worn with glasses, the main thing is to make sure that the glasses do not scratch the lens, and vice versa.
Photo: htc.com
Games and applications for VR mode on your phone
To get started, you can watch 360 VR videos on Youtube or download panoramic videos on the Internet and watch them offline through the player application.
The number of applications for VR glasses is growing every day. On Google PLay and the App Store you can easily download both free games and programs for a small fee.
To find an application with VR capabilities, you need to enter “VR” or “Cardboard” in the search bar. As a result, you will see a lot of different programs and games of different genres.
How to use VR glasses on an Android phone:
- Online viewing of VR 180 and 360 videos.
- Players for watching VR videos offline.
- VR games with character control.
- Demo videos and simulators, such as racing, roller coaster rides, etc.
- Virtual travel to sights around the world.
- Educational applications about the structure of the universe and wildlife.
We will devote a separate article to this topic - a review of the most popular games and applications for virtual reality on smartphones.
How to play with VR glasses on a smartphone
In many games, a virtual cursor appears in front of your eyes (a dot in the center of the screen). Management is carried out using it. To make a selection, you need to move the cursor over the desired button or item. Once loaded, the action will be executed.
There are games that require you to tap on the screen. Some models of VR glasses have a button that performs this function. If the glasses do not have a control button, you can use the bluetooth remote control. The action will be performed when you press the corresponding button on the gamepad.
Oculus
The latest headset from Oculus, Quest 2, is activated using a mobile application that can be downloaded from the company's website. Through the application, the helmet can be connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Oculus Rift and Quest connect to your PC using an Oculus Link cable or USB 3 equivalent. The helmet is subject to the same safety guidelines as HTC.
What to play: Star Wars Squadrons, Beat Saber, Half-Life Alyx, Star Trek Bridge Crew, Skyrim VR.
Photo: oculus.com
Pros and cons of VR headsets for phones
Pros:
- Low cost compared to virtual reality headsets for computers.
- Easy to use, no need for long connection.
- Compact, all you need is a smartphone and small glasses, such a set can easily be taken with you to visit friends.
Minuses:
- Limited possible actions in virtual reality compared to PC headsets.
- Fewer applications available.
- Nausea and dizziness in sensitive people.
conclusions
Given their accessibility and ease of use, VR glasses for smartphones definitely deserve attention. For a small price, you will experience the mysterious world of virtual reality. Virtual reality glasses will become a gaming novelty for you and will involve children in the educational process with interactive opportunities. If you are still wondering whether it is worth buying a VR headset for your smartphone, our answer is YES. By the way, you can make such VR glasses with your own hands, but more on that another time.
Have fun experimenting in the virtual world!
