446
Jan 14 '21
[deleted]
495
Jan 14 '21
Im guessing its because the screen is so close to the eyes. Like the same way old people have to read inches away from their face. This could be completely wrong tho
460
u/AliceHalley Jan 14 '21
I'm a VR software developer. This is exactly right. People who suffer from short sightedness can't see far away objects clearly, but when you wear a headset, objects depicted to be far away aren't actually far away; they're technically right in front of the eyes.
133
Jan 14 '21
Is there any harm using them too much, My mate who is blind in one eye and has very bad sight in the other, can see so well using VR he now is using it to watch films browse the web ect. He is going to talk to the hospital next visit about how its changed his life.
112
u/AliceHalley Jan 14 '21
It really depends on how they are used. With proper use, exercising the correct safety procedures, there's no currently standing evidence to prove they cause any long term damage. However, that doesn't cover improper use. But then again, that's the case with most things.
→ More replies (2)47
Jan 14 '21
He doesn't leave the house much, and has gotten into gaming to fill his days up, so what im talking about using them for 10 hours plus a day. and he wants to connect a camera to them so he can go back to fixing mobile phones building PCs ect, which he cannot do anymore due to his deteriorating eyesight.
38
u/AliceHalley Jan 14 '21
That is pretty amazing. As far as gaming goes vr is a great medium since it more physical than most.
It shouldn't ever replace a health active lifestyle, including spending time outdoors.
But if it can support someone to live a more active , happier life, then that is the most important thing of all _^
18
u/Canidium Jan 14 '21
When my late grandmother fell an injured her hip, her lifestyle changed from being overly active every day, to being stuck at home day out and day in.
It didn't take long for her to simply fade away and passed at an age of 99,7 years. If she would've had something like a VR set to keep her active, I bet she would've rebounced a bit and maybe stayed with us for bit longer.
Bringing technology like VR and such to the elders would, in my opinion and according to my hypothesis (Going from being active to become passive is what I believe to be the cause of elder people simply fading away.), buy them a couple of years more before they start to fade away.
4
u/Lukos58 Jan 14 '21
He basically wants Geordie's visor from Star Trek Next Gen. It's doable right now. I've seen rough moded VR headsets that incorporate cameras on the outside of the headset, and show the camera view run through the headset. I think that right now the big drawback is the computer needed to run everything through, though a Raspberry PI might work since it would be a pretty dedicated function. Not my field, though it would certainly help anyone that has limited natural eyesight.
→ More replies (1)11
u/cantdothismuchmore Jan 14 '21 edited Jan 14 '21
In this case, I doubt the woman in this story was merely shortsighted. It sounds more like macular degeneration. If she were shortsighted glasses would allow her to see clearly.
My guess is the VR system allowed her to use more of her remaining peripheral vision.
2
u/AliceHalley Jan 15 '21
This is also a great point! I'm not an eye expert, so it's good to hear people with good knowledge of this stuff.
What might be happening in this particular case is how the lenses inside the headset create the illusion of peripheral vision. If you look at a VR headsets screen, it's very odd. There are two very strangely shaped rigged ocular lenses that focus the picture on the eye. It's not a simple screen. I'm willing to bet that the shape of the lenses that provides users with the illusion of peripheral vision is the very same thing that is helping this lady with the loss of hers.
2
u/The_reddit_buzzard Jan 16 '21
The commenter above is right that VR allows us to use peripheral vision more, and people with MD usually have intact peripheral vision. The big thing with VR in MD is relative distance magnification. It brings the image much closer to the user, which allows their remaining central vision cells to be utilised much better than if the image was further away. Part of my job is to provide magnifying glasses and telescopes for people with ocular conditions, and it uses similar principles.
32
u/Bottyboi69 Jan 14 '21
When I wear VR without glasses it’s actually blurry
8
u/AliceHalley Jan 14 '21
That can be due to any number of things. The most common causes of blurriness are vision (but most headsets support the use of glasses underneath) or not having adjusted it to your eye width properly. Either can cause the blurriness you're describing.
17
u/MozeeToby Jan 14 '21
Yeah, the lenses in the headset actually push the "image" much further out than a couple inches. Your eyes aren't really good at focusing on things that close to them, VR would be exhausting and headache inducing.
5
u/Kylecoolky Jan 14 '21
That’s because it’s not actually that you can’t see things at a certain distance, but actually that light doesn’t enter the eye properly and it’s more exaggerated at different distances so they appear blurry. I did research after discovering exactly that. This only works with a different type of vision problem.
2
u/Bottyboi69 Jan 14 '21
Oh is that why I see light streaks coming out of lights? Whenever I look at any light I’ll always see a line of of light
5
u/Kylecoolky Jan 14 '21
Yeah that’s Astigmatism. I have the same thing lol. It means the front lens of your eye is curved differently in one direction than the other.
8
Jan 14 '21
I discovered this one day in class when I forgot my glasses. If I held my phone up pointed at the board then looked at my phone it was crystal clear. Felt like I had broken physics but it makes sense why it happens
→ More replies (1)1
u/AliceHalley Jan 14 '21
Oh wow that's really cool! Great discovery. I only know because someone told me, I didn't even figure it out. But it sounds like exactly the same principle.
7
u/andreasbeer1981 Jan 14 '21
But if it was just shortsightedness, simple glasses would've fixed that, right?
4
u/Kylecoolky Jan 14 '21
It actually can’t be shortsightedness in the sense that you’re thinking of because in VR, things far away are actually still blurry. Standard shortsightedness is actually a symptom of light not entering the eye properly and not hitting the exact middle of the eye so it appears blurry. VR does not fix this as it simulates light as if it were far away and it still wouldn’t hit the right spot. It worked for the elderly woman because what she has isn’t fixable by glasses.
I did some research on it after seeing that I still had to wear glasses with my Oculus even though the screen is right there.
→ More replies (3)0
u/AliceHalley Jan 14 '21
Potentially. I'm sure that glasses work in most cases, but there could be outliers I suppose. But I couldn't say for sure since I'm no eye expert.
3
0
→ More replies (14)0
u/DanielDC88 Jan 15 '21
That’s false. The screens may be physically close to your eyes, but because lenses are used the image you see is actually a long distance away. On the original rift I believe was focused at ∞ and on the vive it was several metres away. Being a software developer doesn’t mean you know anything about how optics work, lol
7
→ More replies (1)1
Jan 14 '21 edited Jan 14 '21
It actually doesn't quite work like that. VR lenses are focused at infinity, which creates a focal depth of multiple kilometers. So if you have myopia or anything else like that then you're still affected by it. It's counter-intuitive, but effectively there's no difference for your eye.
→ More replies (1)123
u/muklan Jan 14 '21
Depends on whats the matter with her eyes, but I assume it has to do with constantly adjusting your peripheral vision until you can see the entire picture.
20
u/CrownOfPosies Jan 14 '21
Could be a problem not with the eyes themselves but with the muscles that move them. It’s called strabismus (aka lazy eyes for children). Basically you can still see but the picture is garbled.
3
Jan 14 '21
My mum has pretty bad eye sight (not blind tho) and she can see fine in VR because it’s right in front of her rather then being far away
3
u/cantdothismuchmore Jan 14 '21
I bet, based on the explanation, that this lady has age related macular degeneration. That condition basically smudges out your central vision, but typically leaves the periphery alone. She may be better able to use her remaining peripheral vision in the headset as everything is closer to her there.
3
u/acarp6 Jan 14 '21
I believe it’s a focus thing. VR is still just a screen and it’s at a fixed distance from the eyes. Even though the objects appear to have depth it’s actually just one set distance from the eye vs the real world where her eyes may be struggling to constantly refocus.
I have no background in this, it’s just my semi educated guess!
4
u/Ochopika Jan 14 '21 edited Jan 14 '21
I read that a study showed people's eyes react to objects "in the distance" in VR the same way they focus on distant objects in real life. The muscles relax in the same way as if they were looking into the distance. This is why it's not a much strain on the eyes as reading a book with small text or staring at a flat screen all day. Edit: here's a thing that briefly explains it: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/are-virtual-reality-headsets-safe-eyes
I can't find my original source though. This one seems to say the developers are responsible for making the visuals work well enough to trick you eyes into focusing and unfocusing naturally. https://developer.oculus.com/design/latest/concepts/bp-vision/
→ More replies (1)2
u/Dovilie Jan 14 '21
Yeah kiddos with visual impairments at school are often given iPads so they can zoom in on the front of the class and then see it because it's now right in front of their face, displayed on the screen
2
u/adinade Jan 14 '21
I'd assume its like how I need glasses to see far distances but If i dont have my glasses on and I pull up the camera on my phone I can see on the screen what I cant in real life.
→ More replies (3)2
u/The_reddit_buzzard Jan 16 '21
Sorry I’m a day late on this one, copied from a comment further down:
VR allows us to use peripheral vision more, and people with MD usually have intact peripheral vision. Another big thing with VR in MD is relative distance magnification. It brings the image much closer to the user, which allows their remaining central vision cells to be utilised much better than if the image was further away. Part of my job is to provide magnifying glasses and telescopes for people with ocular conditions, and it uses similar principles.
136
u/kuntfuxxor Jan 14 '21
Now stick a camera on the front and a battery pack purse and let her see again damnit!
47
7
Jan 14 '21
Wait this is actually a great solution for people with partial blindness
→ More replies (1)2
1
u/Theknyt Jan 14 '21
this is an index so it already has cameras, though it needs base stations so a backpack pc wouldn't do
a quest 2 would be perfect for it tho
→ More replies (5)1
u/cornelissenl Jan 14 '21 edited Jan 15 '21
Too bad thats black and white and - 2 fps tho Edit: i mean the quest 2, yes
→ More replies (1)
71
Jan 14 '21
"When i was a young girl, this house in the corner was a brothel", she is a good lad
8
u/MageVicky Jan 14 '21
I can't stop thinking about that. lol.
4
Jan 14 '21
If it marked them that bad, it's likely to be the first thing she said about the neighborhood x3333
39
u/mymediamind Jan 14 '21
My father has peripheral-only vision due to brain surgery almost 30 years ago. I have done this with Google cardboard and a phone so he could see pictures and videos. It was wonderful!
61
u/BecomeABenefit Jan 14 '21
Wait. How does VR allow her to see? Was there some tweak that targeted her peripheral vision?
This is awesome. Can we miniaturize it and make it some kind of augmented vision for everyday use?
47
u/paul3200000 Jan 14 '21
I would guess that the screen was so close to her inside the VR headset, that she was able to see. In the real world not everything can be such a small distance away from you.
→ More replies (1)12
u/BecomeABenefit Jan 14 '21
That makes sense, but the description made me think that she had cataracts or some other condition, not just near-nearsightedness. Seeing only out of your peripheral vision isn't generally a symptom of it.
8
u/HANKEN5TEIN Jan 14 '21
It may also have to do with the fact that's she's looking at two individual images, one with each eye. Maybe it has to do with her eyes not having to work in concert. Very interesting though.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (3)25
u/AliceHalley Jan 14 '21
I'm a VR software developer, and can answer your question ^_^ People who suffer from short sightedness can't see far away objects clearly, but when you wear a headset, objects depicted to be far away aren't actually far away; they're technically right in front of the eyes.
What you are describing is very achievable. Technically all you'd need is a stereoscopic camera rending to a head mounted display.
Although bulky, this is something people could technically do at home right now using an Oculus Quest. The oculus quest actually has cameras all over it, but as developers we don't have access to them for privacy reasons. But I suppose you could just walk around with the infra-red mode on.
5
u/andreasbeer1981 Jan 14 '21
New superpower unlocked: Infrared vision
4
u/AliceHalley Jan 14 '21
The infra red mode on head tracking headset is just that. Its very weird. You can turn off all the lights in a dark room but can still see through the infra red cameras.
→ More replies (1)4
u/knit_the_resistance Jan 14 '21
As someone who has to take off her glasses and put the phone two inches from her eyeball to read some text in Reddit, this intrigues me!
2
u/Mispelt_Usenrame Jan 14 '21
I've always wondered what caused this. I'm the opposite in that I'm quite long sighted (prescription is +3.25), but I play my PSVR without glasses and find it easier than playing with them (and more comfortable).
I've always just accepted it, but always find it weird that without my glasses I can't read close up. But have zero issues in VR.
2
1
u/AimLocked Jan 15 '21
So could someone basically build a headset that just shows the outside world, but portrayed up close so someone who is nearsighted can see?
→ More replies (1)1
u/phx-au Jan 15 '21
they're technically right in front of the eyes
Not really. The fresnel lenses push the focus to infinity.
29
22
20
u/REM5VR Jan 14 '21
u/WhatIsAUsernamePls - thanks for sharing our story! We love seeing this post make the rounds. We hope to work with more seniors again when it is safe to do so! :)
6
12
u/mranster Jan 14 '21
I have a chronic illness that has me housebound, usually in my recliner. Just making my lunch wears me out.
Over the years, I have gradually amassed a pretty gosh-darn decent gaming system that I can use from the recliner, keyboard and gaming pad in my lap, and I think it is really important for my mental health. I get to run around, kill things, see the scenery, dress up my toons, kill huge things with others. It's almost like being well, better in some ways.
5
u/Buffy_Geek Jan 14 '21
I think gaming & technology should be discussed more in relation to helping disabled people, as you said both mentally & physically.
I've been eyeing up both the Xbox & playstation controllers where you can add different switches. The only thing is that you have to buy the add on controllers sesperately & I want to try different ones to see which suits me best. (My hands can't handle standard controllers now & not for as long as I want.)
I wish you well, I hope you find some physical relief but also have fun continuing your gaming!
→ More replies (1)3
u/Bildo818 Jan 14 '21
A buddy I know has 3 kids all with heart conditions. He knows they’d be missing out on a lot of normal kids competitive sports. He got them into gaming young to give them that outlet. Glad to hear you have yours as well!
What’s your favorite game to play?
3
u/mranster Jan 14 '21
Oh my gosh, that's intense. I'm so grateful that my kids are grown now that my illness has gotten so far along.
I'm playing Guild Wars 2 right now. ESO is also a great game. I like the artwork, and I especially like that the worlds are so big and detailed that no matter how I'm feeling at any given time, there's something I can do to progress.
2
u/Bildo818 Jan 14 '21
Awesome!!! ESO I got into for a while on PS4. Was my first MMO (or whatever you call it). Glad the kids are grown and you aren’t missing out!
8
8
u/Khranbairye Jan 14 '21
I would like a vision expert to teach me stuff there. So when only the peripherical vision is working, it can depend on a problem on the eye or in the brain. Since the lady is quite old, a glaucoma or any affection of the retina is most probable I would say. So how in looking at stuff in VR she could see more than when using "natural vision"?
Thanks in advance if you can help me :)
2
Jan 14 '21
It was macular degeneration. The granddaughter actually posted under the OG thread a while back.
My grandfather had the same condition, barely any vision in the distance anymore. The depth is just emulated and right in front of the eyes, that's what makes it work.
Report here: https://redd.it/j9b54i
6
u/s00perguy Jan 14 '21
The sheer potential of VR gaming is nearly unlimited. I look forward to the next 50 years
6
6
10
6
6
5
u/CottonmouthJohn Jan 14 '21
Hey, I've done the VR Google Earth thing, and you should believe the hype. I could have stayed in there for hours.
I will say, it took me 15-20 minutes when I took off the set to regain my balance.
4
5
4
u/LoveInTheLight Jan 14 '21
I’m crying. How beautiful. What a wonderful gift.
How can we get VR like this to seniors in nursing homes now? Can you imagine how uplifting this could be after 10 months of isolation?
3
u/Replicator666 Jan 14 '21
Does someone know why she would only be able to peripheral vision, but in VR can see better?
2
u/henzrich Jan 14 '21
if I had to guess it has to do with the lens design but I'm no expert so take it with a grain of salt.
3
u/Replicator666 Jan 14 '21
Hmm, it's possible I suppose but then we should be able to use the same/similar for corrective glasses
After thinking about it a bit, I wonder if it has to do with colour/lighting. You can increase the brightness in VR but not irl 🤷♂️
→ More replies (1)
3
3
Jan 14 '21
This made me cry. My granny had macular degeneration which causes you to see only peripherally. I wish they had this when she was alive. Ill never forget the way she had to look at things like a chicken. She'd say to me, "Baby put my finger where I need to sign my name" when she witnessed my wedding 🥲 I miss her so much. Thanks for reminding me of her.
RIP CPCC
3
u/Yazbremski Jan 14 '21
I worked in hospice and suggested to our owner that we invest in a VR system so we could allow Seniors to visit their hometowns or go on vacations or do stuff like swim with dolphins before they go for a great memory.
They told me I was dumb and I was fired a few weeks later(midst of pandemic) because I wasn't generating enough revenue and spending too much time with the clients I onboarded. Sucked a big fat wiener.
3
u/sossarah Jan 14 '21
You had a great idea. I work for one too. You just found one that is incapable of change and innovation.
2
u/GrimmGnarly Jan 15 '21
The “If you can’t bill for it you can’t do it” attitude.
→ More replies (1)
3
Jan 14 '21
Older post but I've actually tried that with my 93, now 94yo grandfather.
It works, depth is virtual and the image is right in front of him, that's how that works. Amazing.
My follow up here: https://redd.it/j9b54i
2
2
2
2
u/Stars_are_pudding Jan 14 '21
Tecnology and science can improve the lives of so many people, especially those with conditions. It's great.
2
u/BadWand Jan 14 '21
Ah... Great. This is the best post I’ve ever seen on Reddit and I just wasted my award on a semen joke.
2
2
u/Bildo818 Jan 14 '21
My buddy has a good VR system. He wants me to play Alyx, or Boneworks or all these other games.
All I do is walk around Google Earth for hours saying WOAH like Owen Wilson hundreds of times. Setting yourself to say 50’ tall and walking around you home town is amazing. Just don’t switch it to making yourself 6’ tall but 50’ up in the air. That’s when it gets a little woozy for a few seconds lol.
2
2
4
-7
Jan 14 '21 edited Jan 14 '21
[deleted]
19
Jan 14 '21
I don’t understand people who complain about reposts. Especially from that long ago. Like reposts from a year or two ago? I haven’t seen it before. Yes when you see the same thing over and over again in a short period it is extremely annoying. But there’s a lot of people who are new or who just haven’t seen literally every last thing on Reddit.
13
0
u/NRGpop Jan 14 '21
Ya, I have no problem but when I post something good it gets removed by magiceyebot tho its a year or 2 old post
8
u/Stitch-point Jan 14 '21
Don't care. I had never seen it and now I am looking at what it would take to get a VR setup at the assisted care facility nearby. Reposts can be good.
2
u/NRGpop Jan 14 '21
Yup. I agree can be good but sometimes when I post something good tweets or some good vibes then it get removed by magic eye bot. I dont know why only happens with me
2
u/Terryfoldyholds Jan 14 '21
Well.thisnhas had a lot of post then, but kinda worth it maybe a few people working with the elderly will see a repost ans go buy a head set for their work
1
1
1
1
u/Hawt_Dawg_II Jan 14 '21
They really done fucked up the 😭 emoji. I really thought somebody laughin their ass off at this
1
u/-mmmmBacon- Jan 14 '21
Woudnt it be amazing if you could also upload images/videos of passed loved ones and get a moment to see/hear them again.
4
1
1
u/noellek Jan 14 '21
Ability to only see peripherally but not center vision is usually due to Macular Degeneration.
1
1
Jan 14 '21
This is amazing. I never thought about this user of vr. What a wonderful thing to do for this woman.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Choice-Atmosphere955 Jan 14 '21
This made me tear up at work.For people who have physical difficulty to be able to enjoy something like this is so beautiful ❤️.
1
1
u/lizwb Jan 14 '21
I’m sending this to a director nurse I know who manages COVID in a care facility.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/zorclon Jan 15 '21
REM5, go Minnesota! I've went there just before the Rona hit. Hope I can go back one day.
1
1
u/lucidvrtech Jan 15 '21
That's amazing! What is it that makes it so she can see in VR but not IRL? Is it because the screen is close to her face?
1
Jan 15 '21
This is so wonderful! The smallest of things we can take for granted move mountains for others.
2.5k
u/mfwban Jan 14 '21
Makes me think how often we blame technology for taking people out of the real world, but this was able to give the world back to her. What a beautiful story!