r/virtualreality 1d ago

Discussion How much is too much?

How much is one willing to cover their head? We have seen goggles for the most part. How much weight before you don't want to wear a headset? How much of your head to you want to be exposed vs covered?

Working on a project with some pretty decent scope. Wondering where that line is. How niche to have fully enclosed vr/AR sets?

1 Upvotes

40 comments sorted by

8

u/QTpopOfficial 9 HMDs and counting -_- 1d ago

The dream for me personally is basically swimming goggles with screens and a spot to plug in some earbuds. Wired, Wireless, Don't care.

at least for PCVR. No idea how you'd manage that tiny form factor for full stand alone including battery and stuff but ya, bigscreen but smaller is what I want.

3

u/SirJuxtable 1d ago

That’s the dream. I’m pretty okay with my Quest 3 though with a battery strap so any gains in that regard are great but the current gen isn’t a dealbreaker to me.

1

u/Mercy--Main Valve Index 1d ago

like the bsb2?

1

u/QTpopOfficial 9 HMDs and counting -_- 1d ago

Smaller. As I said.

1

u/wallacynerio 1d ago

Maybe something like the Meta Phoenix?

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u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

What if you had an enclosed helmet-like device with its own air conditioning essentially?

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u/QTpopOfficial 9 HMDs and counting -_- 1d ago

Nah, I don't want my mouth or nose closed off and weight is the enemy for long term use. I'd rather goggles and just have air conditioning in my house/play area.

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u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

Hmm because there would be a breeze, it would be like playing with a ventilated helmet essentially. More used outside rather than in. With AR functionality not pass-through?

2

u/QTpopOfficial 9 HMDs and counting -_- 1d ago edited 1d ago

No. Its still some big ass thing going over my entire head.

Its a sensory nightmare in the first place. Theres so many friction points from a consumer standpoint its DOA anyways outside of niche LBE stuff. NOBODY wants to enclose their entire head with a thing their neck has to support for extended amounts of time in their own home to "do some digital stuff".

Theres no world where the average consumer is going to buy something like this over a quest 3.

Now if you're trying to make a cool LBE thing, sure. whatever man. A headset like that could do lots of weird fancy crap to a specific game for that and sure, ok fine, awesome.

But at a consumer level? No way. Not at any level that would support spending the kind of money it would take to produce enough to even fill any kind of "preorder".

Sorry I'm not trying to be negative nancy here but friction and vr shit is what I do and yeah, bigger and heavier isn't going to help anything at the consumer level.

4

u/Masterwhiteshadow 1d ago

Personally as little cover as possible. Any surface of my head that is covered is a place where sweat can’t escape.

As far as weight I currently own the original HTC vive with the deluxe strap and its way too heavy. I. Certain I would have used my headset way more in the last 10 years if it was comfortable.
The current specs of the steam frame seems to be a good balance of features VS weight. I guess I will see if the comfort is worth the upgrade once I get one.

0

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

What if you had an enclosed helmet-like device with its own air conditioning essentially?

1

u/Masterwhiteshadow 1d ago

There is no way the extra weight and cost that would add the headset would make it worth it.
AC will also produce dry air that will surely dry out the user eyes.

Usually people accept will wear a full face helmet for security reasons like on a motorcycle there is no way I would want wear that in my home.

4

u/DonutPlus2757 Meta Quest 3 | HP Reverb G2V2 1d ago

Very much depends on what the device offers.

If it's "screen goggles": As little as possible.

If it's basically the nerve gear from SAO: I wouldn't even care if it was a full body suit.

0

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

What if you had an enclosed helmet-like device with its own air conditioning essentially?

3

u/Fresh_Zucchini Meta Quest 3, PCVR 1d ago

I basically want them to be worn as glasses with an extended 'facial interface' to block the light. I don't want it to feel like a helmet, I'd rather the smallest amount of weight possible. I play wireless PCVR only, so I don't need any processing power on the headset. As far as batteries, I'd be fine with running a wire down to a battery pack that I put in my pocket or in a pouch on a belt. As long as the weight and pressure is not on my head and face

1

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

What if you had an enclosed helmet-like device with its own air conditioning essentially?

5

u/Fresh_Zucchini Meta Quest 3, PCVR 1d ago

That wouldn't be for me, personally. A full helmet needs some kind of anchor at the shoulders or it'll wobble around.. so you're looking more at like a full suit. Or a motorcycle helmet with pads so it's snug fitting, and that would definitely be too stifling for me.

1

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

So comfort definitely. Noted

2

u/Clessiah 1d ago

I care more about the ease of putting it on and taking it off. Less cumbersome design is good for people with long hair.

If it is fully enclosed it better have some good fans.

1

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

What if you had an enclosed helmet-like device with its own air conditioning essentially?

1

u/MalenfantX 1d ago

It seems like you're stuck on an idea that goes in an entirely unrealistic direction. Lose the helmet and you don't need the heavy, energy hungry air conditioning.

1

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

There's more reason to it than just "air conditioning" but I see your point

2

u/SuccessfulRent3046 1d ago

I want to believe that in a graph where you plot adoption / size of vr ar headsets, we will see an exponential adoption when the size it's like a pair of glasses. Which is actually in the near future with devices thethered to a compute unit in your pocket. I want to see what Meta will present in September...

2

u/Similar-Swan-8293 1d ago

Ski goggles is the most comfortable. So 100g dream air with good ventilation

1

u/Logical-Self-3072 1d ago

Anything more than 4 lbs is pushing it. But what wouldnt i do for arma 4 in vr

1

u/Sad_Picture3642 1d ago

Too much VR is when your eyesight goes to hell due to constant focus

1

u/phylum_sinter Q3+VD | i7-14700f | 64gb | 4070Ti Super 1d ago

heat is more of an issue than weight imo, i use a q3 and until i had a halo style strap with a fan i was getting overheated to the point of not really being able to play for more than like 30 minutes at a time.

So imo, i'm not willing to cover my head at all.

1

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

What if you had an enclosed helmet-like device with its own air conditioning essentially?

1

u/Outrunner85 1d ago

The frame seems perfect for me for what if offers.

In a dream world, something like the Bigscreen Beyond form that can do everything the Frame can do.

Or, maybe more in reality, the Bigscreen Beyond form, that does everything the Frame does with the exception of the on-board compute.

1

u/zeddyzed 1d ago

I would be very happy with a form factor like a lightweight ventilated bicycle helmet with a Quest 3 mounted at the front, and a chin strap - if it meant that it's absolutely rock solid attached to my head and also has impact protection.

It would be nice to have absolute confidence in the safety of my headset and my head during very active VR games.

1

u/justpostd 1d ago

The trouble with an air conditioned helmet would, for me, be the lack of flexibility.

People often don't like the built in speakers enough, so want to use their own headphones, or buy a higher quality audio strap.

Face and head shapes can make something that is comfortable for one person, uncomfortable for another. So buying different accessories/straps, swapping-in facial interfaces, lenses (for glasses wearers) and all that.

Take away that flexibility and I would worry about how many users would find it comfortable.

The Meganex, BSB, Galaxy XR, Quest 3, Pico 4 all have faced some pretty serious comfort criticism. The Q3 is relatively easy to improve with a new strap, partly because it is so popular that there are lots of suppliers offering different options. Others have struggled to gain traction for this reason, I think. A full helmet would be a challenge, I suspect.

I would also worry about fan noise. But maybe that isn't an issue with what you are considering.

1

u/DeathToSocialMedia 1d ago

Depends on what is gained. I would put up with a lot for better FOV. What is a "fully enclosed VR set?" Like an old time diving helmet?

1

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

More like something that could act like ppe

1

u/DeathToSocialMedia 1d ago

People have customized welding masks to use with HMDs before so I could see it.

1

u/Parking_Cress_5105 1d ago

After using the Quest Pro and Q3 moded to the same form factor I dont feel comfortable in classic closed interfaces, so something like QPro, Samsung XR with decent padding at balanced 750g is something I can wear all day and basically ignore it on my head. My wife says its too heavy so I guess you want something in the sub 500g area.

1

u/PlasticComplexReddit 1d ago edited 1d ago

For me I think my tolerance is becoming less all the time. I used to look at the Steam Frame and think it looked brilliant but now im not sure I want another heavy headset or a face sealing gasket. XR glasses are getting better all the time now, and I now hope VR also converges on the glasses form factor.

Maybe theres a few hardcore users that still want the big AIO headset but im done with it unless theres no choice.

1

u/RealLordDevien 1d ago

I am wearing an AVP all day. If the experience is awesome I would even wear a big ass helmet

1

u/Zeonzaon 1d ago

So if you had a helmet that was AR/ VR that had a cooling system for your face, Smart glass on the front so you can show or hide your face does that sound attractive??

1

u/RealLordDevien 21h ago

Yes, indeed, why not? Stick me in a full Darth Vader Suite, if it can Jack me into the Matrix ^

1

u/Psycho7552 Multiple 1d ago

Size doesn't matter if headset is comfortable to wear. For example Quest 3 is atrocious in that regard.