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Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

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Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#51

Post by blah_humbug »

georgewsinger wrote: post #43
blah_humbug wrote: post #29

>From Iron Man to The Minority Report, our Sci-Fi has been promising us for decades a future of always-on spatial computing and omnipresent screens. This is the Future we deserve. Assuming that this is serious and not parody, then you have a very different vision of a utopian future than I do.

It's serious (not parody), though I can understand in retrospect why that might be off-putting, and I should probably word the paragraph better. I sometimes watch Sci-Fi movies and focus too much on the technology (forgetting that the entire plot covers some terrible dystopian theme, lol). I'm personally a fan of "Definite Optimism" views of the future.[1] Western culture used to portray technology really positively…

Sorry, I don't understand how strapping some screens very close to our eyes will bring us back to the halcyon days of pre-1970 (which were absolutely dominated by the discovery of cheap energy in the form of oil and coal, and in the case of the US, the technological boost of fighting a war without the downsides of it being on its own soil). It sounds like what you are pining for is the time when we reaped maximal benefits of the Industrial Revolution but before we realised the repercussions.

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#52

Post by jensensbutton »

I'm curious about the typing experience. Is the Simula One able to bring the keyboard into the virtual environment or do you need to rely on touch typing? I know Meta partnered with Logitech on a special keyboard (K830) to try and solve for this. How are you thinking about it?

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#53

Post by musingsole »

nsilvestri wrote: post #44
4ggr0 wrote: post #37

I know, people are already talking about a price, but I want to add my perspective as well. I was subscribed to the Newsletter, read every blog post and generally was pretty hyped for the Simula One. Up until I read the blog post about the pricing. That's when I unsubscribed the newsletter and forgot about SimulaVR. Sure, other AR/VR headsets cost as much, but for me its just too expensive. I can't spend nearly $3k f…

It's a fairly high-end headset attached to a compoarably powerful laptop, and the cost reflects the combined cost of both parts. It's expensive but the price makes sense.

> attached to a compoarably powerful laptop

This is the part that doesn't make sense. I don't need a computer from a product manufacturer focused on something else. I already have 10+ computers within reach; 3 of them can stream just fine to my Oculus Quest.

Really, is the only way to create a VR PC to eschew all of that in favor of some controlled hardware ecosystem? I don't/won't buy it.

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#54

Post by georgewsinger »

jensensbutton wrote: post #52

I'm curious about the typing experience. Is the Simula One able to bring the keyboard into the virtual environment or do you need to rely on touch typing? I know Meta partnered with Logitech on a special keyboard (K830) to try and solve for this. How are you thinking about it?

Our VRC supports an "AR Mode" via two front-facing RGB cameras, which allows you to see your keyboard. There's a snazzy demonstration of it our main sales video.

Here's a more down to earth video of us testing it last summer in our compositor: https://youtu.be/6H5-mdGpKZg Note this is just an early test with a single fish eye lens (grainy; distortion not corrected). Our actual AR mode is much higher quality than this.

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#55

Post by ianai »

kanetw wrote: post #50
ianai wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you consult any physiologists? Anyone who knows what’s acceptable to those muscles? There’s a reason eye glasses use lightweight materials. Then all the various treatments to make the lenses visually clear and comfortable.

Good idea. We're mostly working off experiences with other headsets and e.g. bike helmets here, but having harder data would be good.

It’s a cool idea. I remember dreaming of this sort of thing in HS. I’m sure there are medical professionals who’d be able to inform you for a consultation. Perhaps even wiring up some volunteers to see muscular activity with various weights. Or yeah maybe helmet design has tread this well.

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#56

Post by nonplus »

I see a lot of comments on the pricing of this hardware. It's going to be more expensive (for the end user) to build a headset (and FOSS window manager) than a product like the quest. Meta has a suite of products bringing in capitol by selling user PII. Valve has a distribution platform to offset costs.

If you want to see a product that is open end to end and is not part of an ecosystem selling your information, then it has to be funded.

I realize most of the people reading this don't want a moral argument for spending $2k-$4k on a HMD, but thats what I am offering.

We should have multiple openXR compatible headsets to choose from, and specialized window managers that 'just work' in VR. Fund the FOSS projects you want to see in the world so others will follow.

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#59

Post by jdbernard »

ianai wrote: post #26
georgewsinger wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The compute pack is detachable, but leaving it in the back of the headset is good for front/rear balance. Most gaming headsets on the market today are very front-weight biased. Our headset supports an "AR Mode" with two front-facing high-res RGB cameras.

Did you consult any physiologists? Anyone who knows what’s acceptable to those muscles? There’s a reason eye glasses use lightweight materials. Then all the various treatments to make the lenses visually clear and comfortable.

If it's well-balanced I would imagine that it would work for long periods of time. We already have some evidence from people modifying other VR headset straps to balance the weight. I wasn't able to find any information about the total weight of the Simula One VRC, but I know personally that my motorcycle helmet is close to 4lbs and I have often worn that for days at a time with lots of head movement.

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#60

Post by selfhoster11 »

sbarre wrote: post #33
999900000999 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>(Q4 '22/Q1 '23 target) We'll talk when it actually ships. You do understand 3k is a ton of money right ? The other issue is even if I did pre order , the second you miss a release date I'd file a charge back. Get too many charge backs and payment processors will stop accepting orders for you. To be honest it would make more sense to develop an ultra cheap option, anything 1k or less, and you'll find people ready to…

> You can buy an HTC Vive for 800$, and a PI4 for 60$. Why would anyone use Dropbox?? You can just use SFTP, CVS and a 5$ VPS... [0] Seriously though, let's treat your comment as non-trolling: The HTC Vive - a 6-year-old device - does not have anything close to the per-eye resolution needed to do any kind of desktop computing, AND it uses outside-in tracking, meaning you need external lighthouses so it's not really p…

The Dropbox comment doesn't apply here. Simula One is meant for Linux geeks, the exact kind of person who would be just as happy (or happier) to roll their own Dropbox if it was cheaper.
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