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Simula: A VR window manager for Linux

github.com

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Re: Simula: A VR window manager for Linux

#11

Post by outworlder »

georgewsinger wrote: post #9

In case people are curious what it's like to work in VR, here's a demo of me using Simula: https://youtu.be/FWLuwG91HnI I would argue that working in VR is fundamentally superior to working in PCs/laptops. It's basically 10x the screens, focus, and work immersion. Simula's text quality is also very good (getting around the eye fatigue present in older VR Desktops).

Is it possible to have a giant curved "screen"?

I feel we are just scratching the surface of what's possible. Yes, multiple (arbitrarily sized) windows are neat. But we can probably do more.

Even without any changes though, I just wish my VR headset was lighter. I can go more than 8h straight in VR... playing games. Not sure about working.

Will try this :)

Re: Simula: A VR window manager for Linux

#12

Post by skratlo »

georgewsinger wrote: post #9

In case people are curious what it's like to work in VR, here's a demo of me using Simula: https://youtu.be/FWLuwG91HnI I would argue that working in VR is fundamentally superior to working in PCs/laptops. It's basically 10x the screens, focus, and work immersion. Simula's text quality is also very good (getting around the eye fatigue present in older VR Desktops).

Well looking at the video, I mean, I can have dozens workspaces with hundreds of windows (if I need to) and navigate them with moving just my fingers, whereas you are apparently breaking your neck to navigate more than 3 windows. I think what you're doing is cool and has to be done for the sake of exploration, but I would really, really focus on navigation. Also, how are you supposed to focus on text, when reading or reading or writing when it's wiggling all the time. It seems to me that VR really is for games, but for working with text I think humans are better off with stationary screens.

On a second thought: if you would make it easier to "fix" window, such that one can focus on it and work. As when you are "placing" a new window in your video, that could make it a workable solution.

Re: Simula: A VR window manager for Linux

#16

Post by kanetw »

outworlder wrote: post #11
georgewsinger wrote: post #9

In case people are curious what it's like to work in VR, here's a demo of me using Simula: https://youtu.be/FWLuwG91HnI I would argue that working in VR is fundamentally superior to working in PCs/laptops. It's basically 10x the screens, focus, and work immersion. Simula's text quality is also very good (getting around the eye fatigue present in older VR Desktops).

Is it possible to have a giant curved "screen"? I feel we are just scratching the surface of what's possible. Yes, multiple (arbitrarily sized) windows are neat. But we can probably do more. Even without any changes though, I just wish my VR headset was lighter. I can go more than 8h straight in VR... playing games. Not sure about working. Will try this :)

> Is it possible to have a giant curved "screen"?

SteamVR does this, but I've found it less useful than movable/resizable windows.

> I feel we are just scratching the surface of what's possible.

Definitely. This is one of the first viable iterations, but there's lots and lots of improvement potential everywhere.

> Even without any changes though, I just wish my VR headset was lighter.

Yeah, agreed. But I think future hardware will improve on that.

Re: Simula: A VR window manager for Linux

#20

Post by kanetw »

skratlo wrote: post #12
georgewsinger wrote: post #9

In case people are curious what it's like to work in VR, here's a demo of me using Simula: https://youtu.be/FWLuwG91HnI I would argue that working in VR is fundamentally superior to working in PCs/laptops. It's basically 10x the screens, focus, and work immersion. Simula's text quality is also very good (getting around the eye fatigue present in older VR Desktops).

Well looking at the video, I mean, I can have dozens workspaces with hundreds of windows (if I need to) and navigate them with moving just my fingers, whereas you are apparently breaking your neck to navigate more than 3 windows. I think what you're doing is cool and has to be done for the sake of exploration, but I would really, really focus on navigation. Also, how are you supposed to focus on text, when reading or…

Navigation is one of the things we definitely need to improve upon.

I think the wiggling is actually kind of natural -- you don't notice your head or eye movements when you do them automatically, but it might be exacerbated in VR.

The fixing is an interesting idea, we'll try it out. I'm a bit worried it might feel weird in VR.

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