The growing number of virtual reality headsets and various price points should see schools exploring the use of virtual realities to enhance student learning experiences.
Not only are virtual reality experiences engaging and entertaining, but they have the power to transform e-learning into i-learning as statistics show that people retain 10% of what they read, 50% of what they hear, and 90% of what they do.1
Not only are virtual reality experiences engaging and entertaining, but they have the power to transform e-learning into i-learning as statistics show that people retain 10% of what they read, 50% of what they hear, and 90% of what they do.1
VR Head-Mounted Displays (HMD):
Two Approaches
Virtual reality head-mounted displays (VR HMDs) are available in two formats:
- A VR HMD connected to a PC (most powerful and most expensive).
- A plastic or cardboard headset that holds a smartphone running a VR app (cheapest and most mobile).
Hardware
Win/Mac/Linux PC Solutions
|
Smartphone Solutions
|
Head-Mounted VR Displays
Controllers
|
Head-Mounted VR Displays
Controllers
Stand-Alone Solutions
|
PC-Enabled VR Solutions
Oculus Rift
The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset, originally launched through a Kickstarter campaign (raising over $2.4 million) and years later was acquired by Facebook for $2 billion!
The Versions (Listed In Chronological Order):
Development Kit 1 (DK1):
The first Oculus Rift was funded and released via a public online fundraising Kickstarter campaign. Whilst the DK1 headset looked very different to the art/model shown in their campaign imagery, VR experiences could be interacted with via a keyboard, mouse or an Xbox 360 gamepad, with optional hand tracking for some experiences available via the use of a Leap Motion controller. The headset plugged into a control box, and the control box plugged into a computer running Windows 7 or 8 via a dedicated 1GB or 2GB graphics card with HDMI & DVI support. |
|
Development Kit 2 (DK2):
In March 2014, Oculus VR released the second development kit for the Oculus Rift (also via a Kickstarter and Patreon campaign) with improved functionality based on developer feedback. VR experiences could be interacted with via a keyboard, mouse or an Xbox 360 gamepad, with optional hand tracking for some experiences available via the use of a Leap Motion controller. Instead of a control box, the DK2 connected directly into a computer running Windows 7 or 8 via a dedicated 1GB or 2GB graphics card with HDMI & DVI support. The DK2 came with a positional camera to track the user's head position via infrared sensors contained on the faceplate of the DK2 headset. |
|
Oculus Rift (Also known as CV1 / Consumer Version 1):
Now available for purchase in retail stores for the first time, the Oculus Rift came with
|
|
Oculus Rift S:
A bugbear of the CV1, the Oculus Rift S saw the need for tracking stations removed. Limited hand tracking was introduced (by detecting if a user's thumb and/or index finger was touching either hand controller). The Rift S also required a computer with at least a dedicated 4GB graphics card. |
|
Oculus DK1 & DK2 Setup
For those of you who are lucky enough to get your hands on the now rare DK1 and DK2 models (I have 8 DK2s, 4 DK1s, and 2 DeePoon (Chinese) headsets for introducing VR to primary school students so that they can learn about the progression of VR). The Oculus DK1 & DK2 can be used in two ways:
Note: Only one of the below options / versions of the Oculus software/runtime can be installed on a machine. So if you would like to use both the old and new Oculus VR titles easily, use a dual boot computer, using Windows 7 for the v04.4 - v0.8 runtimes and apps and Windows 10 for the new/current apps with the Oculus app store.
Option 1: Running Current Oculus Store Titles
The DK2 can still play about 70% of the store apps and games using the current Oculus software, although (as shown above) Oculus will try to give you a warning that your computer does not meet Rift's recommnded specifications and your DK2 is unsupported. just ignore that warning, even if your computer has a compatible graphics card, CPU and RAM.
Games from the Oculus Store, Steam VR and the Vive Store (via Revive) can be played using a keyboard and mouse, wired or wireless Xbox 360/One controllers. |
Option 2: Running Old/Original Oculus Demos and Software
By Using a Windows 7 or 8 PC with Oculus Runtimes v0.4 - 0.8, hundreds of classic apps such as Welcome To Oculus, My Neighbour Totoro, Pokemon VR and Van Gogh's The Night Cafe can be used.
Windows 10 can only run runtimes 0.7 and 0.8, which removed all support for VR apps made using runtimes 0.3 - 0.6. Do not attempt to install runtimes 0.3 - 0.6 on Windows 10 machines as this will result in a boot loop, which is only recoverable if you have backed up your Windows 10 machine via recovery mode). To learn how to build a desktop computer to run a DK1/2 headset and set it up, access my guide here. |
Controllers (Optional Accessories)
VR headsets are designed to function in the following manner:
- In-built gyroscopes in the headset allow users to look around (and in some apps enable users to navigate by looking at target points or tilting their head forwards or backwards).
- Some VR headsets can track two hands and ten fingers using tracing sensors inbuilt into each headset. These are used for some apps.
- Two wireless hand-held controllers, one for each hand, with tracking of each controller. Each controller can vibrate to give hatic feedback to the user.
- Xbox controllers (Xbox One Controller v1708 via bluetooth and Xbox 360 via an additional wireless reciever) are also supported natively by most apps.
- By default with all apps, a keyboard, mouse or trackpad (which users can't see whilst wearing the headset) can be used to control the experience (e.g. move around: up, down, left, right arrows, interact = Space-bar, Esc = quit).
- A hand detection motion controller (such as a Leap Motion) can be used to create a more immersive experience.
- A hand-held USB gamepad or joystick can be used to enable easy eyes-free in game navigation and interaction.
Touchless Control
In-Built Hand & Finger Detection (Some Modern Headsets)
Most modern VR headsets contain sensors that can detect your hands and fingers based on whether they are touching or not touching a controller. However, you need the cotrollers in your hands.
Some VR headsets, such as the Oculus Quest, can detect your hands and fingers without the needs for having a controller in your hands. Whilst hands-free (via pointing or pinching) VR experiences can free up your hands, they also come with the drawback of you recieving no haptic (vibration) feedback. |
|
Leap Motion Controller
A Leap Motion Controller is a tiny USB device that tracks hand and finger gestures (such as point, wave reach and grab). It uses the air space (8 cubic feet/135° field of view) around the controller to detect movements.
Popular for user who use the Oculus DK1 & DK2, a Leap Motion Controller can be mounted onto a VR headset (via an offcial plastic mount or for free using a 3D printer) to enable users to interact with and navigate within specific apps designed for the Leap Motion Controllers (classic examples, modern examples) using hand and finger gestures (instead of using a keyboard or mouse).
Watch the videos below demonstrating the Leap Motion Controller's ability when mounted to a VR headset:
Popular for user who use the Oculus DK1 & DK2, a Leap Motion Controller can be mounted onto a VR headset (via an offcial plastic mount or for free using a 3D printer) to enable users to interact with and navigate within specific apps designed for the Leap Motion Controllers (classic examples, modern examples) using hand and finger gestures (instead of using a keyboard or mouse).
Watch the videos below demonstrating the Leap Motion Controller's ability when mounted to a VR headset:
|
|
As shown below, the Oculus Rift DK2 is covered in invisible infra-red sensors that are used for head-tracking by the Oculus Camera. Therefore users should ensure that they mount the Leap Motion Controller into a suitable position on the Rift as not to cover the sensors.
Image: Andrew Goldberg CC-BY-NC-SA
|
It is recommended that users connect the Leap Motion Controller directly to the computer (via the USB extender included free with the mount) instead of the DK2′s built-in port (located on the top of the HMD - see the image below) as:
|
Handheld Controllers
VR Motion Controllers
All modern VR headsets come with two handheld controllers. They contain in-built tracking sensors in each hand controller which are tracked via the headset. Each controller contains a thumbstick and various buttons, and also provide users with vibration (haptic) feedback.
As picture below, sometimes the sensors can be seen when turning on a controller or viewing the controller under certain lighting.
As picture below, sometimes the sensors can be seen when turning on a controller or viewing the controller under certain lighting.
X-Box Controllers
Some modern apps and most development kit apps are specifically designed to be used with an Xbox controller (Xbox One Controller v1708 via bluetooth and Xbox 360 via an additional wireless receiver).
Other Controllers
Any other gamepad can be used to navigate within VR apps, provided that the gamepad is mapped to simulate a keyboard or mouse. This can be done using various mapping apps such as Joy2Key.
Using other gamepads can be tricky as each game has it's own unique keyboard/mouse settings that must be mapped to the controller. View the image below to see to see an example:
Using other gamepads can be tricky as each game has it's own unique keyboard/mouse settings that must be mapped to the controller. View the image below to see to see an example:
Natural Motion Interface
Various 360 platforms have been designed to act as a natural motion interface to emulate the function of any keyboard or gamepad controlled game. The low-friction platform that enables users to immersive themselves into any VR or non-VR game by being able to walk, run, jump, duck, step backwards, strafe and sit!
The platforms can also be used whilst holding a game controller(s). It connects to a PC or mobile VR device using Bluetooth.
The platforms can also be used whilst holding a game controller(s). It connects to a PC or mobile VR device using Bluetooth.
Phone-Enabled VR Solutions
The following solutions work by simply placing a smartphone into a cardboard or plastic headset and using side-by-side (SBS) apps (pictured right) to deliver virtual reality experiences to each eye.
- Pros: Mobile VR solutions are completely untethered; users simply download and then open up a VR app on a compatible smartphone, slot the phone into the headset, put on the headset and they're in a VR world
- Cons: Less powerful than PC-based VR headsets and the differing dimensions of smartphone models may render some headsets unable to fit a user's phone.
Google CardboardGoogle has amazingly released free plans that enables anyone to create cardboard headsets that can be used in combination with a smartphone to enable anyone to experience virtual reality!
Simply download any of the hundreds of VR apps that available in the Play Store, launch the VR app, slide your Android phone into the cardboard headset, and switch between VR applications without taking the headset off. Watch the video below to see Google Cardboard in action! As Google does not sell the cardboard for the headset, you have three choices:
Open DriveOpen Drive is a free 3D printable headset that enables a smartphone to slide into the front using compatible VR smartphone apps.
For another alternative option, anyone can build their own plastic VR head mounted device to hold a smartphone following these instructions. Any of these headsets can be used to play the hundreds of VR apps that available in the Play Store. Google DaydreamGoogle Daydream was the next step from the Google Cardboard, however it only worked with a limited series of compatible smartphones.
Note: The Daydream will only work with Android OS version 9 or below. If your compatible phone has updated to OS 10, you cannot use the Daydream any more! |
Samsung GearVRThe Samsung Gear VR (now discontinued but still very viable and useful was designed in conjunction with Oculus (the makers of the Oculus Rift) to enable owners of Samsung phones (S6 - S10) to use their phone to explore a wide selection of beautiful VR apps from the Gear VR store.
Samsung released a number of different versions of the Gear VR, in white (earlier models) and black (more recent). All gear VRs contain a
touchpad on the right-hand side of the headset that enables users to run a finger in any direction to navigate, and to tap to select). Some of the black models came with a handheld motion controller for easier interaction and navigation whilst in VR.
As shown in the video above, upon inserting a compatible phone into the Gear VR headset:
1. If this is the first time the phone is being used for virtual reality, the Gear VR software will be download will be activated and the user will be prompted to remove the phone. 2. The user will be prompted to insert the phone into the Gear VR and the Gear VR store will open in virtual reality. Limitations / Work Arounds As mentioned above, upon inserting a compatible Samsung phone into a Gear VR headset, the Gear VR store/library will launch. This apparently locks users into only using the Gear VR to play Gear VR apps and not the hundreds of VR apps that available in the Play Store. However, you can easily now download Package Diabler Pro, install it and follow this video guide to temportaily disable the Gear VR store automatic launch sequence to be able to use the hundreds of VR apps available on Google Play.
|
Phone-Based VR Apps & Games For Education
There are so many apps and games that are perfect for using with both primary and secondary school students. Contained in the section, as well as a detailed list below, are the apps that I have used in my classrooms. All of these apps were tested during 2021.
Science (Space)
Art
Health & Physical Education
History
Religion
Science (Space)
- Learn about the solar system by flying across it
- Experience first-hand by actually living and reenacting the role of multiple members of the Apollo 11 mission in virtual reality instead of via a performing arts play (entering the lift at Houston, moving into the rocket, ignition, flying through the atmosphere into outer space, separation of modules, docking, descending to and landing on the moon, walk on the moon, depart the moon, redock, re-entry and then splashdown on Earth)
- Float inside and explore the International Space Station
- Go on a walk outside of the International Space Station.
Art
- Walk inside Van Gogh’s A Starry Night to actually view the painting from different perspectives (which they could not normally do) and explore brush techniques and physical elements contained within the painting. Students could then paint their own perspective (as seen during the VR experience), rather than paint a copy of the original.
- Experience a ‘live’ drawing/recreation by an artist,a non-scary artistic vision of the story of the bombing of Darwin by Japanese forces during World War II as told/narrated by an aboriginal elder who was there.
Health & Physical Education
- Experience first-hand the moment that they may need to make a decision (and the consequences of that decision) should they encounter a head knock during sport to learn about the impacts of concussion on the human brain.
History
- Walk inside Anne-Frank’s house, rather than rely on viewing videos or photos, drawing or 3D images such as this 3D cardboard model or this computer-based and navigational 3D model of the house (see these possible unit planning ideas).
Religion
VR Apps For Education
Play Store VR Apps
COMING SOON
Art: English/Library:
Geography: Health & Physical Education: History: Information Technology: Maths: Meditation: Religion
Science:
SOSE (Studies of Societies and the Environment) |
Gear VR Apps
Art
English:
Geography:
Health & Physical Education:
History:
Information Technology:
Maths:
Meditation:
Religion
Science (Human Body):
Science (Space):
SOSE (Studies of Societies and the Environment)
Miscellaneous (Video Based):
|
Phone-Based Controllers (Optional Accessories)
Whilst VR smartphone solutions generally contain their own attached finger controllable navigation pad to help users interact with their VR experience, users can also use an additional Bluetooth controllers to improve their experience and play VR games designed specifically for gamepads. The best option is to use the Xbox One Bluetooth controller. Other options can be access here.
Stand-Alone VR Solutions
Removing the need for a phone and for a computer, stand-alone headsets use in-built processors, memory, graphics chips and online VR stores to provide stunning VR experiences. The headsets are lightweight and portable.
Stand-alone headsets such as the Oculus Go and HTC Vive Focus (both come with one hand pointer / controller) and the Oculus Quest 1 and 2 (both come with two hand controllers) are perfect for use in educational and home settings.
Users simply put on the headset and interact with the content using the one or two hand controllers that come with the model, with no need for pairing controllers or inserting phones.
All of these headsets can wirelessly connect to gaming PCs to run Oculus and Steam VR titles.
Stand-alone headsets such as the Oculus Go and HTC Vive Focus (both come with one hand pointer / controller) and the Oculus Quest 1 and 2 (both come with two hand controllers) are perfect for use in educational and home settings.
Users simply put on the headset and interact with the content using the one or two hand controllers that come with the model, with no need for pairing controllers or inserting phones.
All of these headsets can wirelessly connect to gaming PCs to run Oculus and Steam VR titles.
Oculus Go
|
HTC Vive Focus 1 and 2
|
Oculus / Meta Quest 1
|
Oculus / Meta Quest 2
|
VR Apps For Education
Oculus / Meta Quest:
Science
Science
- Mission ISS: Navigate and explore inside the ISS, explore each node & module, and take a space walk to view the ISS from the outside
- Shuttle Commander: (i) As an astronaut, experience first-hand the launch of STS-31 with actual cockpit audio from the mission, (ii) View images in 3D and VR recreated from the images taken from the Hubble Telescope (the Orion Nebula, Saturn and it's moon Titan, Mar's moon Phobos and the Pillars of Creation in the M16 Nebula), (iii) Learn more about the Discovery space shuttle in a virtual hangar, and (iv) Fly and land the space shuttle Discovery at the Kenndedy Space Centre.
Software
The whole reason for considering the use of virtual reality headsets in educational settings are the experiences that can be downloaded (mostly for free). Check out the following programs:
PC-Enabled VR Software For Oculus DK1 or DK2
Whilst there are a large variety of apps and games available for PC VR headsets (which may also work with phone-based headsets if Splashtop is used), reviewed below are the apps that are the most suitable to use in educational settings across a number of learning areas:
DK2: VR in Integrated / Inquiry / Discovery Units
Minecrift (Win/Mac/Linux) is a free program that allows users to explore and walk amongst their Minecraft worlds (click here to learn about Minecraft in educational settings).
Watch the video below to see Minecrift in action: The Wipeout Minecraft pack can be downloaded from here.
System Requirements:
|
Buildville (for Windows) is a free program that looks, feels and acts like Minecraft, without needing to buy a copy of Minecraft!
It has a port for the Oculus Rift (for Windows) that is truely amazing as it enables users to enter into an immersive world where they actually are the protagonist. Watch the video below to see Buildville in action: System Requirements
|
DK2: VR in Literacy
The following apps would be ideal for having students use a VR headset and then have students compose a narrative or a descriptive recount of their experience.
Spirited Away, the Boiler Room (DK2: Win, DK1: Mac/Linux) is a free VR experience to enable users to step into Chihiro's shoes within an iconic scene from the famous Japanese animated film Spirited Away.
During a study of narratives, students could watch the film (noting down its characters, settings, plot, dilemmas and resolutions) and then enter the VR version of the film to given them an unforgettable experience! |
My Neighbour Totoro VR - The Bus Stop Scene (DK2: Win, DK1: Mac/Linux) is a free VR experience to take users within the world of Studio Ghibli's 'My Neighbour Totoro', a famous Japanese anime film.
During a study of narratives, students could watch the film (noting down its characters, settings, plot, dilemmas and resolutions) and then enter the VR version of the film to given them an unforgettable experience! |
Storyteller - Fireside Tales is a free demo of a VR audiobook experience, designed to immerse readers into a virtual world to bring audio narrations of famous stories alive.
Watch the video below for a taste: |
Kira (Win/Mac) is a free program that immerses uses in a hands-free beautiful fantasy world that is sure to set the students' imaginations wild!
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
Star Hill VR (for Windows 64-bit) is a 3D/VR recreation of "Star Hill" from Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars for the Super Nintendo.
This demo video game is suitable for all ages and could be used in conjunction with sequencing, descriptive writing, narrative or recount genre writing. Watch the video below to learn more: |
Senza Peso is a free program (for Windows) that immerses users into beautiful realms.
|
XING: The Land Beyond - Rainforest Demo (for Windows) could be used in conjunction with a simple reading comprehension task as well as genre writing (procedural, descriptive writing, narrative or recount genre writing).
Watch the video below to see the visually spectacular world of Xing: A Christmas Carol (for Windows) is an immersive listening post experience. Users are placed into a mid 19th century living room, with snow falling outside and a lit crackling fire.
Simply navigate to the radio and press a mouse left-click to listen to a radio broadcast of "A Christmas Carol" or locate the phonograph and left-click to put a record to listen to a Christmas Carol. |
Fantasy Village (for Windows) is a free demo of a virtual experience that sees users explore a fantasy village that also contains a river/bridge and waterfall/secret cave built for exploration.
It could be used within classrooms for a muse for creative or recount writing. Cafe Ame (for Windows) is a free demo of a immersive experience that sees users embody a entity sitting in a cafe. The experience could be used within classrooms for a muse for creative or recount writing.
Watch the video below to see the whole experience. |
DK2: VR in Art
Inside Vermeer's Studio (Win/Mac) is a free VR experience that enables users to self-explore 17th century famous Dutch painter's Johannes Vermeer studio in Delft, Holland, and learn about his work.
Two of Vermeer's paintings hang on the wall and can be viewed while being discussed by two art historians who point out details specific to Vermeer's work which may also be recognized in the room where you are present. Also, whilst walking around the studio, a few of Vermeer's subjects appear in the room. Watch the video below to see it in action: |
Museum of the Future (Win/Mac) is a free VR 3D model of a small fictional museum that enables users to view some of the masterpieces from the Dutch Rijksmuseum.
Using the headset, users can ‘walk’ around and see the paintings at much closer range than would be possible in reality. When they turn their head, the user's view changes accordingly, giving them a sense of actually being in the virtual museum. Watch the video below to see it in action: |
Monet's Garden (for Windows) is a free VR guided tours of Monet's gardens in Giverny, France, the location that inspired one of the greatest impressionist painters of all time.
Watch the video below to see the tour: Le Musée Imaginaire is a free imaginary art museum that enables users to explore four scenes representing as many great works from different eras - or their context.
Note: The text and audio commentaries contained in this demo are in French. |
Saul Sheard's Weird Place (for Windows 64-bit) is a free VR demo that enables users to explore sculptures and architecture in a sculpture park created by a teacher and students from Chesterfield College.
|
DK2: VR in Science
Earth & Space Sciences
Choi Gravity (Win/Mac) is a free program that is inspired by the movie Gravity. Users experience what is would be like to be 372 miles about the Earth and have to move carefully from from a space shuttle to the International Space Station (ISS).
Watch the video below to see a preview: |
From Ashes (for Windows) is a free tour through space and time. Users simply sit back and watch the universe evolve from the big bang (watching the formation of galaxies, stellar explosions, molecules), move through the age of dinosaurs and end in the exploration of modern day technology.
Watch the video to see From Ashes in action: From Ashes also includes an optional fully-voiced and animated tour guide.
|
A Journey Through Space is a free VR experience that takes you through space whilst listening to an inspiring music playlist.
It is available for download in both a VR and non-VR version. Watch the video below to get a taste of the experience: |
Lunadroid 237 (Win/Mac) is a free interactive narrative (part game, part short film) that takes place on the moon on July 21, 1969.
Watch the video below to get a taste of the experience: Also watch the following videos:
|
Lunar Flight ($10 - Windows/Mac) is a lunar module simulator where players are required to complete a variety of mission types involving transporting cargo, acquiring data at survey locations and locating lost cargo. Each completed mission earns experience points and money to be used to refuel, repair and upgrade the lunar module.
In addition to missions there are time trial challenges complete with online leader boards and a globally ranked ‘pilots’ leader board, ranked by experience. Watch the video below to see Lunar Flight in action: System Requirements:
Windows:
Mac
|
Titans of Space™ is a free short self-paced guided tour of a few planets and stars, shrunk down to 1 millionth of their actual size.
Watch the video below for a tour: Users can:
Titans of Space™ is designed to be used with the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR. A desktop version is also available for those who do not have a VR headset.
It is also available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Czech, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Portuguese, Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Traditional, and Russian. Download Titans of Space™ here. |
Solar System Explorer (for Windows) is a free program that inspired by Titans of Space (reviewed above), and aims to giving users the experience of exploring our solar system to grasp a sense of the scale of the planets and the distance between the planets.
|
Spacewalk (Win/Mac) is free networked interactive VR experience that enables users to experience what it would be like to take a space walk outside of the International Space Station. Players collectively take on the role of astronauts; navigating and exploring the structure of the space station.
Watch the video below to get a taste: |
SaturnV (for Windows) is a free program designed to give users the experience as to what it would be like to stand at the base of a space rocket (size and scale).
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
VRSpacewalk (for Windows) is a free VR program created to give users an immersive simulated experience of taking a space walk to find their way to the International Space Station (ISS).
Watch the video below to see it in action: System Requirements:
|
Walking Mars Beta VR experience (Win/Mac) gives users an opportunity to walk on Mars as the surface is based upon real satellite data from Mars! The mountains that users can see are the base of the Mount Sharp, the spot where NASA's Curiosity is.
There are 4 modes:
|
Surface of Mars (Win/Mac/Linux) is a demo that gives users an immersive experience to walk on the planet Mars.
Space Station 3D (Win/Mac) is a free program that gives user the experience of being on a space station and exploring an alien planet.
|
VolantisVR (for Windows) is a free demo that places users in a spaceship traveling along a part of an unknown solar system.
Watch the video below to get a taste: |
Weightless (Win/Mac) is a free immersive experience that sees the user waking up in a space station to the warm welcoming voice of the station's on-board artificial intelligence. Users can navigate within the space station and if they have a Leap Motion Controller they can use their hands to interact with objects in zero gravity!
Watch the video (opens in a new window) below to see it in action: |
Discovering>™ SPACE (for Windows) enables users to explore space, flying around in a ship. It comes in both a free (demo - Earth & Moon) and paid ($US12.99 Full Milky Way Version) format.
Watch the video below to get a taste of the experience: System Requirements:
|
Planetarium is a VR experience to simulate the experience of being at a planetarium.
Space Marine Bootcamp (Win 64-bit/Mac 64-bit) is a fun and humourous game (with one swear word) to "train" users to handle life in space.
Users experience what it would be like to spin around in a centrifuge, fly a ship, eat food in zero gravity and vomit in space! Watch the trailer below to get a feel for the experience: |
Biological Science / Biomes There are a variety of VR experiences that can be useful in the study of biomes.
Ocean Rift (for Windows) is a free program that takes users on a underwater journey filled with animals, plant life, sounds, ocean currents and systems (dust, bubbles etc.).
Watch the video below to get a taste: System Requirements:
Oculus Snap is a free program that requires users to transverse a jungle to discover and photograph the many different animals that lurk in there! Users only have 35 photos, with each animal worth a different amount of points depending on their difficulty rating.
Watch the video below to get a taste of the experience and access a in-depth guide to the steps required to create the app here. Uncharted Territory (for Windows) is a free VR experience that places the user (who is wearing a protective suit) into desert environment (perhaps on another world).
Users are immersed in the desert atmosphere, able to roam the landscape, explore the seemingly never-ending almost barren landscape. Beneath (Win/Mac) is a free VR experience that immerses users into a detailed and atmospheric cave system, riding in an ore cart with physics and realistic sounds.
Karaage World (for Windows) is a free VR experience for exploring a variety of biomes.
First Try (for Windows) is a free VR demo that enables users to explore a cave and a large desert-like area.
System Requirements
Physical Science & Mechanical Engineering Virtual Crash Test (Win/Mac) is a free VR program that gives users the experience of being a crash test dummy in two cars from two different eras (to demonstrate how car safety features have improved).
This apps can be used as part of student studies of force and motion, health and safety, and mechanical engineering or even chemical science when combined with this lesson plan about chemical reactions in air bag deployments. Chemical Science Developers Chaotic Moon have created a demonstration video of a concept program (not available for download) that allows VR users to manipulate and piece together elements from the periodic table to create a H20 molecule.
To fully embrace the power of Chaotic Moon, a Leap Motion controller is placed onto a VR headset to enable users to interact via hand and finger gestures. Watch the video below to see the concept in action: |
Biological Science: VR in Medicine Virtual reality experiences are being used in the medical field to train surgeons and treat patients suffering from phobias and post traumatic stress syndrome.
Watch the video below (opens in a new window) and then browse the sections directly below to download some of the discussed VR experiences for the Oculus Rift. Biological Science: Human Anatomy Imhotep (Immersive Medical Hands-On Operation Teaching and Planning System) has been designed to enable surgeons to view CT or MRI scans of segmented patient organs, target structures (tumors) and risk structures (vessels) in an immersive virtual 3D scene.
Watch the video below to see it in action: Surgery Experience (Win/Mac) is an immersive first-person video created to allow users to feel what it would be like if they were placed in the shoes of a surgeon who is about to perform a surgery .
The experience, created by the Moveo Foundation in France, shows the potential for virtual and augmented reality to provide training experiences in the field of medicine. Phobias Arachnophobia (for Windows) is free a non-lethal but scary VR experience that seeks to provide a solution to gradually weening people off their fear (rational or irrational) of spiders. Users can set the difficulty level which controls the number of spiders and whether they are in or out of a jar!
Watch the video below to get a taste: Biological Science: Mini-Beasts & Animals Being a Bird (for Windows) is a free demo that gives user the experience of what it would be like to fly as a bird!
System Requirements
CPU: 2.0+ GHz RAM: 2 GB system RAM GPU: Direct3D9 or OpenGL 2.1 compatible. Chicken Walk (Win/Mac) enables users to experience what it would be like to be a chicken.
Players must consume water and chicken feed (corn) to be able to produce eggs, hatch chicks and get them back to the coop all whilst avoiding foxes! Watch the video below (NOTE: A few swear words are used from 5:50 onwards). System Requirements
Wander (Windows/Mac) is a paid ($AU29.43) collaborative, non-combat, non-competitive massively multi-player online game where users simply wander and explore a rainforest.
As they wander, users can unlock new experiences (e.g. take on a variety of forms such as a Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger), Polynesian Elf Girl, Griffon, Azertash (sea creature) and an Ent. Watch the video below to see how users can take on the form of a Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) to wander the rainforest. Learn more about Wander here. System Requirements
|
DK2: VR in History
The Mission (Win/Mac/Cardboard) is a truly epic VR experience! JauntVR and New Deal Studios have scripted and shot an immersive cinematic quality video that places the user into 'The Mission', a WWII special operations team that is dropped into a battle on the Eastern Front! A free ten-minute preview has been released and is a must for any teacher or student studying WWII. Read an in-depth review here and download the free demo here.
|
Roman Pantheon is a free recreation of the Roman Pantheon for users to experience what it would be like to be there, with scale and lighting created to impress.
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
VR Time Travelers: Pharaoh (for Windows) is a free demo to give users the experience of exploring an Egyptian tomb.
Watch the video below for a sneak peak: |
Dino Park is a free VR tour of a dinosaur park where users get up and close with a Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
Jurassic Rift (for Windows) is a free silent demo that enables users to walk through a forest and look at two dinosaurs.
Watch the video see the experience: |
Dinosaur is a free demo app where users are circled by a Deinonychus.
Old Town (for Windows) is a free VR experience that enables users to explore an old medieval town.
|
GiganotosaurusVR (Win/Mac) is a free VR dinosaur demonstration experience that is available for free download and is also being displayed at the Royal Ontario Museum over Winter 2013/2014.
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
Project Time Travel (for Windows) is a demo (with gradual updates) created by a high school teacher to teach students about World History.
There are six historical eras that students can be immersed in, each containing a historically accurate catastrophe for the user to experience. These include:
Watch the video below to learn more: System Requirements
|
Dino Town (Win/Mac) is a free VR demo experience that places the user into a town that has been overrun by dinosaurs. Users get to interact with a carnotaurus, pteranodon and an ankylosaurus and view a velociraptor and spinosaurus.
Watch the videos below to see for yourself: System Requirements
Windows
Mac
|
The Oculus DK2 For Teaching IT
Outlined below are some apps for the Oculus DK2 using runtimes 0.4.4 - 0.6.1 to teach various IT related concepts:
VR Internet Browsing Janus VR, formally known as FireBox, (Win: DK2, Linux: DK1) is a free VR internet browsing experience with an embedded social network and multi-player experience:
Websites are processed through the use of "Site translators" that take the content and known structure of websites and the rooms are generated from this data and is spatially arranged in a more-meaningful manner. Webpages owners can also use special HTML markup tags to tailor how their website content is show as VR content in JanusVR. The experience is also multi-player or collaborative so that multiple people can navigate virtual spaces together, communicate via voice or text and share portals to new areas with each other. Warning: As anyone can create rooms, there are rooms with adult themes and content. Watch the videos below to see this concept in action: |
VR Live Programming If users:
Watch the video below to learn more Simply:
VR Typing Trainer (for Windows) is a demo of an educational VR experience that aims to improve typing speed and accuracy.
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
Virtual Desktop (for Windows) replicates a user's Windows desktop for the Oculus Rift, allowing users to:
Watch the video below to learn more: System Requirements
|
Ciess AKA Darknet (Win/Mac) is a hacking sim that immerses users into a virtual cyberspace world wherein they jump from node to node, defeating security and stealing the data.
Whilst teaching hacking is not the educational goal of an IT teacher, students would be able to visualise these components of cyberspace to help them better understand them and how they work. |
DK2: VR in Mathematics
SenseEarth is VR app to explore the mapping of various famous cities and landmarks from never before seen perspectives.
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
School Simulation 4: Horror Edition (for Windows) is a free demo that sees users (in a suit of robotic armour) enter into a scary school where they have to solve trigonometry problems posed by teachers and placed on school noticeboards to progress throughout the game.
Watch the video below to see a walk-through for the game: |
Battleship VR (for Windows) enables users to play the classic Battleship game in VR (reinforcing grid references). Using the Leap Motion, players can use their hands to select squares, navigate menus and fire upon enemy ships.
The demo allows players to select and fire upon enemy squares. Watch the video below to see it in action:
The demo allows players to select and fire upon enemy squares. Watch the video below to see it in action:
DK2: VR in Physical Education
Runtastic has developed a proof-of-concept app that trains users on how to exercise whilst in a VR world. This VR trainer uses the technology in the Oculus Rift to monitor how the user performs squats, lunges, yoga and also contains a seven minute workout.
DK2: VR in Meditation
Waking Man (Win/Mac) is a free virtual meditation experience. It is ideal for schools who use meditation as students can rotate on a roster to use this truly unique meditation experience.
Watch the video below to see more: |
Eden River (Win/Mac/Linux) is a free virtual meditation experience. It is ideal for schools who use meditation as students can rotate on a roster to use this meditation experience.
Watch the video below to see more: Also watch the Eden River Play Through video.
|
Rest and Relaxation (for Windows) is free a relaxing VR experience that places the user onto a device that is floating peacefully down a lush tropical stream to the sounds of native bird-life.
Watch the video below for a taste: System Requirements
|
CloudStareVR is a free VR demo that places users at a high altitude amongst hundreds of volumetric clouds, slowly making their way across the sky.
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
Soundself is a free demo meditation experience where users are presented with visualisations based on the music within the app and also the chanting noises that the user makes through a microphone.
Watch the video below to see it in action: System Requirements:
|
The Yana Virtual Relaxation platform enables VR users to sit back on Dagat Beach, take a deep breath, relax, listen to the ambient soundtrack and enjoy a sunset, night-time, shooting stars, and then welcome the new day as the sun begins to rise over the tranquil waters.
System Requirements
|
Guided Meditation (Win/Max/Linux) is a free VR mediation experience. Users can select from four different meditation settings.
Suggestions are also given as to how users can use each setting to enhance, differentiate or modify their meditation techniques to suit the experience (using the descriptions here).
Watch the video below to get a feel for one of the experiences:
- Birchnut Forest
- Cosmo Canyon
- Costa Del Sol
- Yokosuka Garden
Suggestions are also given as to how users can use each setting to enhance, differentiate or modify their meditation techniques to suit the experience (using the descriptions here).
Watch the video below to get a feel for one of the experiences:
DK2: VR in Design: Architecture & Interior
RedFrame Environment (Win/Mac) is a free demo that shows the potential for designing virtual tours of buildings as well as creating detailed graphics for VR games.
System Requirements
|
Smart Reality is a free VR experience created to show how VR can be used in the construction industry.
As demonstrated in the video below, connecting a Leap Motion controller to the Oculus headset enables users to interact with the built environment (opening cupboards and doors). |
ViewPort Architectural Visualization (for Windows) is a free VR experience to take users of a virtual tour of a domestic dwelling. Users navigate using an X-Box controller.
Watch the video below get a taste: System Requirements (Minimum):
|
ViewPort VR Panoramic Experience (for Windows) is a free VR experience to take users of a virtual tour of a domestic dwelling created using panoramic images (not video).
System Requirements (Minimum):
|
The CCTA Downtown Burlington Transit Station Demo (for Windows 8.1) is a free VR demonstration of the SketchUp model of the CCTA Downtown Burlington Transit Station.
System Requirements
|
The Villa Savoye Experience is a virtual tour of Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye, one of the most iconic modern houses of the 20th century.
The building was modeled as accurately as possible using references found online. System Requirements
|
Wayfair (for Windows) is a VR experience that enables users to customise a simple living room by changing the models and textures of a couch, coffee table, end tables, and rugs.
|
An Italian Showroom is a VR tech demo for a company specialising in interior doors. Users can walk around a showroom, stop in front of a door, open up the menu and personalise the door to their preferred colour and style, browsing between an actual collection made by the "Bertolotto porte" company. The Demo has two different scenes with different doors styles: wood and glass.
Watch the video below for a taste: |
Casa de Souto Moura is a free VR experience of a house in the city of Porto, designed by the famous Portuguese architect Souto Moura.
The house serves as an example of the typical detail trademarks of the architect, such as the metal and wood stair railings, the minimalistic doors and the large glass windows. Watch the video below to get a taste: System Requirements
All In Virtual and Vielca Architectural Demo (for Windows) is a simple architectural demo that enables users to walk through a design concept.
|
Oculus Tuscany Demo (Win/Mac) is a free VR experience created by Oculus to enable users to explore a house in Tuscany.
There are three versions:
System Requirements
Windows:
Mac:
|
DK2: VR in Manufacturing & Training
Virtual realities are also being used by global companies such as Caterpillar and General Motors to design, create and test products.2 View the following examples below:
Tower Crane VR (for Windows) is a virtual reality experience aimed to train crane operators and also inspire teens and young adults to consider crane operating as a career.
|
Virtalis have created Visionary Render, a software program to enable companies to access their 3D datasets (e.g. CAD) in a virtual reality to understand, test, visualise and collaborate.
Watch the video below to learn more: |
DK2: 360° & Immersive Video Experiences
Experience/Japan is a free demonstration app of a fictional film told as a first person narrative. Told from perspective of Tom (you), users gain the experience of travelling around Japan.
In educational settings, educators could use this app to encourage students to create similar first-person experiences or create a script to match Tom's interactions. Watch the video below for a sample view: System Requirements:
|
In Paris (Win/Mac/Linux) is a free movie made from some views and experiences on a day in Paris shot for a 360 degree experience.
Visit a museum, ride a car and a roller-coaster, explore the countryside, attend a concert and view the Eiffel Tower from afar. In educational settings, educators could use this app to encourage students to create similar first-person experiences. The app requires KolorEyes to be installed on the PC or iOS device. The TotalCinema360 Oculus Player (Win/Mac) allows users to watch live action, omni-directional video content.
Take a stroll down New York City's scenic High Line, have dinner at a restaurant or play with kittens. With the Total Cinema 360 Oculus Player, you will feel like you are there. |
New York City (for Windows) is a free program VR experience that shows how 360 degree immersive content can be used for virtual tours. Take a guided stroll through some of New York City's most memorable locations.
Watch the video below for a taste: System Requirements
|
Night Tickler: 360 Burning Man Timelapse (Win/Mac) is a free 360 degree timelapse video of the transition from day to night at the Burning Man festival. Experience the energy of the festival as the sun goes down and the lights come on!
Watch the video below for a taste: System Requirements
|
Virtual Eiffel (Windows) is a free demo program that takes users on a tour (in a capsule) of the area surrounding the base of the Eiffel Tower to hopefully give them the experience to grasp the size and scale.
|
Experience The Great Wall of China (for Windows) is a free VR experience recorded using a VisiSonics 5/64 Audio Camera. Access more detail here.
System Requirements (Minimum)
|
Yosemite Spyglass (Win/Mac) is a free VR tourist experience. A user's experience starts by standing on the 'diving' board at Yosemite National Park looking around at the park from this vantage point.
Users can then zoom into area of the park with 2.5 times the magnification of the human eye. |
DK2: Virtual Classroom/School Experiences
Pixel Rift (Win/Mac/Linux) is a free demo of a unique VR experience placing users in the shoes of a little girl growing up through the golden age of video games. Users even get to enter into a classroom and cheekily try to play video games behind their teacher's back.
Watch the video below to see the app in action: |
Percipio (Win/Mac) is a free demo of a virtual reality study tool that is meant to immerse users into a VR classroom. The concept behind its design is that:
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
DK2: VR Media Players
Cineveo ($US10) places users inside a customisable virtual cinema to watch all 2D & 3D video file formats smoothly (AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV, MKV, even H.264 MKVs). Users interact with the experience using hands-free head movements.
Watch the video below to see Cineveo in action: |
VR Cinema (for Windows) is a free virtual movie theater where users can watch videos in 2D as well as 3D in a theater screen. Users can even walk around and choose their seat.
The application supports AVI, MP4, MKV, WMV files. Watch the video below to see it in action: |
LiveViewRift (Win/Mac) is a free media player with a virtual cinema that enables users to:
It supports:
|
MaxVR (for Windows) is a paid ($7.99) movie player that caters for:
System Requirements:
|
Whirligig is a:
|
VR Video Extension (Win/Mac/Linux) is an extension that enables Oculus Rift users to watch HTML5 video tags from YouTube (opened in the Chrome browser) in a 3D environment.
The extension requires vr.js plugin to be preinstalled, else you'll get a regular panoramic viewer. Watch the video below to see the extension in action: |
VR Player is another free media player for VR headsets. It enables users to play 2D and 3D videos (local files or web-based streams such as http://vrplayer.tv/).
It also has voice commands, gamepad and keyboard support and subtitles support (.srt and .smi format). Available projections:
Watch the video below to see it in action: |
Riftmax Theater (Win/Mac) is a free avatar-driven multi-player virtual reality social experience that enables:
Riftmax Theater is also playable on standard monitors with a keyboard/mouse, or an X-Box or Razer Hydra controller.
|