Last week I talked about all the great things about three of the most popular virtual reality headsets: The Samsung Gear VR, the Oculus Rift, and the PlayStation VR. If you want to learn more about these headsets, click the link here: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/virtual-reality-h... to read that article.
Now, while these headsets are great and they open a lot of doors for entertainment such as gaming and movies, they still have their drawbacks. Here are some of the bad things about virtual reality headsets.
Motion Sickness
Motion Sickness isn't a new to gamers. I know that a few of my friends and even myself on occasion have experienced slight motion sickness from playing certain games. If you have experienced that feeling then you know it isn't a pleasant one. The VR headsets are known to make that feeling a lot worse since it is like you are in the game. When I tried the PSVR, I didn't experience any motion sickness. I didn't have it on that long so; I don't know if wearing it longer I would have felt some motion sickness (hopefully not because I am looking forward to purchasing one when it comes out later this month).
Disorientation
Disorientation can also be a bit of a problem. You are turning your head side to side, and looking up and down. Those motions alone can cause disorientation. Now add to the fact that the motion blur you see in the headset is different from the motion blur you see in real life. These headsets do an excellent job of creating an alternate reality that looks very real, but they are not perfect. I made it a point to go to a Game Stop on a Friday to try the PSVR. It's a great headset, but when I took it off I was a little dizzy, and coming back to actual reality was a little disorientating. It is a weird feeling when you take off the headsets after using them for a little while.
You are not in reality but you are, and you need to remember that.
I was speaking to a guy when I was waiting to check out the PlayStation VR, and we were talking about an experience he had using the Samsung Gear VR. He has a low-hanging light in his dining room and no table under it. He said spun around when playing a game with it and ran smack into the ceiling light. Not only did he break the light, but he also hurt himself in the process. As virtual reality improves they are going to be more interactive, and people need to remember that while they do not see the reality around them, it is still there and they need to be aware of that.
Virtual Reality headsets have a lot to offer, but keep in mind some of the physical drawbacks.
