The Oculus founder proposes a brand new measure of consolation for VR headsets
Meta Quest 3 will likely be launched in a couple of weeks, and naturally the brand new headset is already being in comparison with its predecessor. This week on Twitter, VR lovers have been debating the shape issue and weight of the gadget.
The Quest 3 is far slimmer than the Quest 2 because of the flat lenses, however the weight will not change a lot. In keeping with an nameless developer, the brand new Quest headset weighs 509 grams. That is 6 grams greater than the Quest 2. However the gadget nonetheless feels lighter (due to its thinner profile), writes journalist Mark Gorman, who reportedly tried the Quest 3.
In keeping with Meta, the Quest 3’s physique is 40 p.c thinner than the Quest 2’s, not counting the faceplates. | Photograph: Meta
If two headphones weigh roughly the identical however have completely different ranges of consolation, then weight alone is clearly not an goal measure of consolation.
Newton meters as a substitute of grams
The Oculus founder jumped into the dialogue with an uncommon proposal. “HMD ought to cease advertising and marketing weight in grams and begin advertising and marketing torque in Newton meters,” Locke wrote on Twitter.
Since Quest 3 protrudes much less from the face than Quest 2, the Newton counters must also be decrease. This could make it simpler on the neck and extra comfy, despite the fact that they’re about the identical weight. If the battery may very well be positioned at the back of the pinnacle as a substitute of within the entrance, the neck can be extra comfy (which might result in different design compromises).
After all, the proposed Locke scale can not seize all facets of consolation: the pinnacle strap and face interface could also be uncomfortable for some folks, relying on particular person elements corresponding to head form and private preferences.
Nevertheless, it’ll present an goal commonplace that may have medical significance. Particularly since there Massive variations between digital actuality headsets By way of type issue and weight: from small, light-weight headphones just like the Bigscreen Past (127g) to outsized beasts just like the Pimax Crystal, which weighs in at simply over 800g. The query is whether or not the typical client understands what Newton meters are.
Removed from the one level of competition
Comfort is not the one benefit of VR headsets that is arduous to quantify. Even when it comes Visible high qualityThe {industry} nonetheless struggles to seek out constant and correct metrics.
Show decision is among the many elements that have an effect on visible high quality, as headphones use lenses and have a big influence on picture high quality. Because of this Meta advised measuring sharpness as properly.
In her proposal, she intentionally excluded Meta Discipline of view, avoiding one of many greatest factors of competition within the {industry}. The truth is, there’s nonetheless no industry-wide commonplace for measuring the sphere of view of a VR headset. The values that headphone producers present of their headphone specs ought to subsequently be handled with a wholesome dose of skepticism.
