Headsets

The IMEX Lab currently supports a variety of headsets that are made available to students, faculty and staff at University Park and participating Commonwealth locations. This roster is evolving as new devices are being released fairly quickly; as such, the team will add new viewers as they become available. Additionally, information about units that are being reviewed for possible future inclusion will be periodically shared here.

Meta Quest 2

Meta Quest 2 (initially sold as Oculus Quest 2) is a virtual reality (VR) headset developed by Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook, Inc.). It was unveiled on September 16, 2020, and released on October 13. As with its predecessor, the Oculus Quest, the Quest 2 can run as either a standalone headset with an internal, Android-based operating system, or with Oculus Rift-compatible VR software running on a desktop computer. (Wikipedia)

This device is an ideal choice for highly immersive virtual reality content. The Rift provides motion tracking, gestural interactivity and spatial audio capabilities within VR environments, affording the viewer a rich experience of any constructed world.

Oculus Rift

Oculus Rift was a virtual reality headset developed and manufactured by Oculus VR, a division of Facebook Inc., released on March 28, 2016.   […] The Rift has two Pentile OLED displays, 1080×1200 resolution per eye, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and 110° field of view. The device also features rotational and positional tracking, and integrated headphones that provide a 3D audio effect. (Wikipedia)

This device is an ideal choice for highly immersive virtual reality content. The Rift provides motion tracking, gestural interactivity and spatial audio capabilities within VR environments, affording the viewer a rich experience of any constructed world.

View Master VR

In February 2015, Mattel announced a collaboration with Google to produce […] the View-Master Virtual Realty Viewer, based on virtual reality using smartphones. The new View-Master is an implementation of the Google Cardboard VR platform: […] Content is displayed on a smartphone screen; the phone itself is inserted into the back of the unit. (Wikipedia)

This device is perfect for a first foray into 360º video content and also works well for in-class viewing activities where students work alone or in pairs to immerse themselves in course-related materials.

Oculus Go

The Oculus Go is a standalone virtual reality headset released on May 1, 2018. It was developed by Oculus VR. […] The Go is an untethered all-in-one headset, meaning it contains all the necessary components to display graphics and doesn’t require a connection to an external device to use. (Wikipedia)

This device has been a great choice for both first-time content experimentation and more in-depth 360º video experiences – as well as light VR exploration.

Samsung Gear VR

The Samsung Gear VR is a virtual reality head-mounted display […] developed by Samsung Electronics, in collaboration with Oculus VR, and manufactured by Samsung. The headset was released on November 27, 2015. (Wikipedia)

This device has been excellent for individual or shared experiences in the IMEX Lab.

Cameras

The IMEX Lab supports a handful of 360º camera gear for in the field recording. Like headsets, this space is developing rapidly, so expect this roster to grow and change as new devices are released. The team will post updates as new devices are tested and evaluated.

GoPro MAX

The GoPro Max has dual 180-degree lenses that shoot 16.6-megapixel 360-degree photos, 5.5-megapixel 4:3 shots from just one of the cameras (what GoPro is calling “Max SuperView” photos) […] For video, it can capture 1440p 60 fps footage with a single lens and 5.6k 30 fps spherical clips. (The Verge)

This device is a refinement of the packaging of the Garmin VIRB and an improvement in overall usability through its simplified mobile app.

Garmin VIRB 360

The Garmin VIRB 360 is a spherical 360-degree action camera that can record video in 5.7K resolution at 30fps. It also boasts four built-in microphones for capturing spatial audio. […] Videos and images are stitched in-camera (at up to 4K resolution). (Camera Jabber)

This device is a step up from the Nikon KeyMission in terms of durability and content production quality. The VIRB features four microphones for basic spatial audio as well as recording capabilities up to 5K resolution.

Nikon KeyMission 360

The KeyMission 360 is a a small, squarish camera with two huge lenses, a protective rubber cover, a 6.6-foot drop rating, and a 100-foot waterproof rating. It measures 2.4 by 2.4 by 2.6 inches (HWD), weighs about 7 ounces and sports a standard tripod thread. (PC Mag)

This device is a good choice for first-time 360º video recording. It features a shock proof case design, making it well-suited to outdoor locations and its 4K recording capabilities ensure decent quality with little overhead for beginners.

Equipment Exploration

Viewing

IMEX Lab offers multiple ways of viewing content, including the Pinwheel Theater at University Park as well as Viewing Pods and curved displays at various locations.

Curved Display

The Curved Display provides an opportunity to view 360º or VR content outside of a headset. This option is perfect for group viewing activities where multiple viewers are unavailable. It is also ideal for users who are uncomfortable with – or otherwise physically unable to wear – such a device. For editing, the Curved Display is a great option quickly reviewing a 360º video project without exporting.