5K OLED VR Headset: Bigscreen Beyond Hands-On Impressions!

Introduction

In this section, Norm introduces Darshan Shankar, the founder and CEO of Bigscreen. They discuss how Bigscreen has been making software for almost a decade and are now venturing into hardware with their new VR headset.

Bigscreen's Venture into Hardware

• Bigscreen is known for making one of the most essential applications for VR to enjoy content with friends on your computer or streaming services.

• Bigscreen is now venturing into hardware with their new VR headset.

• The weight of current headsets has doubled since 2016, which makes them uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.

• The priorities for Beyond were comfort, wearability, contrast, and high resolution.

Priorities in VR Headset Design

In this section, they discuss what was missing in VR and what was holding back the big screen experience. They also talk about how Beyond prioritizes comfort, weight, and resolution.

Missing Aspects in Current VR Headsets

• Current headsets are uncomfortable to wear for long durations of time.

• Some people feel left out because their priorities are different from those that big companies focus on (e.g., standalone inside-out tracking).

Priorities in Beyond's Design

• Comfort, weight, and resolution were the top priorities when designing Beyond.

• The headset should be comfortable to wear for long periods of time without leaving marks around your eyes or feeling heavy on your nose.

• High resolution is important so that users can see details like text-heavy applications or movies as if they were watching on a 4K OLED TV.

Beyond's Features

In this section, they discuss the features of Beyond, including its display, panels, and optics.

Display and Panels

• Beyond uses micro OLED displays that are RGB stripe with an incredibly small distance between pixels.

• The displays are full 8-bit 2560 by 2560 pixels per eye (2.5k per eye), which is like a 5K headset split across two displays.

Optics

• The lenses in Beyond have a wide field of view and are designed to reduce distortion.

• The panels used in Beyond are smaller than those used in other headsets claiming to be 5K because no one makes panels that small.

Pancake Optics for VR

In this section, the speaker discusses pancake optics technology and how it is used in VR headsets. They also talk about the challenges of manufacturing and designing lenses for optimal performance.

The Journey to Pancake Optics

• The speaker explains that pancake optics technology has been in development for several years.

• They note that previous VR headsets used fresnel lenses and LCD panels, but new technologies have allowed for different form factors.

• The speaker mentions that there are trade-offs when using pancake optics, but they are targeting a field of view similar to the Oculus Quest.

Designing Pancake Optics

• The speaker explains that pancake optics use folded path optics to allow for greater magnification in a small form factor.

• They note that designing lenses for pancake optics is complex due to variables affecting optical performance and quality.

• The smaller the lens, the more difficult it is to achieve a wide field of view and sweet spot.

Wearable VR Device

• The speaker notes that their device has no top strap or additional straps because it contacts the back of the head and face differently than traditional devices.

• There is no traditional gasket because magnets are used instead.

• A custom wearable VR device is made by scanning the user's face with an application.

Overall, this section provides an overview of pancake optics technology and the challenges of designing lenses for optimal performance. The speaker also discusses their custom wearable VR device that uses pancake optics and is designed to fit the user's face.

Introduction to the Washable Cushion

In this section, the speaker introduces a new type of cushion for VR headsets that is washable and breathable.

Features of the Washable Cushion

• The cushion is made of a silicon foam material that is skin-safe and washable.

• The cushion has ventilation on the inside for breathability but is not too porous to avoid absorbing dirt over time.

• The cushion can be washed with dish soap by hand, making it easy to clean.

Customization and Calibration

In this section, the speaker discusses how each headset is customized to fit the user's IPD (interpupillary distance) and how calibration is done before shipping.

Customization and Calibration Process

• Each headset is built to fit the user's IPD, which does not change once they are an adult. There is no IPD adjustment on the headset as it is fixed to your specifications.

• The headset has a 68mm size, which can accommodate people with similar IPDs within a certain range.

• Before shipping, each headset undergoes a tune-up calibration process based on mechanical adjustments specific to each user's IPD setting.

Lens Adjustment

In this section, the speaker talks about lens adjustment options for people who wear glasses.

Lens Adjustment Options

• The Gen 2 VR headset does not have enough space for glasses inside it.

• The initial plan was to have adjustable diopters, but it was found to be difficult to get right due to mechanical tolerances.

The Importance of Diopter Settings

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of using the correct diopter setting when using a VR headset.

Using the Wrong Diopter Setting

• Using the wrong diopter setting for an extended period can be damaging to your eyes.

• Renewing prescriptions every couple of years is important.

Simplifying the Optical Stack

• Simplifying the optical stack by avoiding any moving mechanical elements is crucial.

• Prescription lens inserts are used to avoid struggling with getting it right and provide a better user experience.

Custom VR Headset

In this section, the speaker talks about how they have created a custom VR headset that is tailored to each individual's needs.

Bespoke Approach

• The solution found was to create prescription lens inserts that are customized for each customer.

• The device supports SteamVR 1.0 and 2.0 base stations and all SteamVR accessories and controllers, making it highly customizable for each user's needs.

Target Customer

• The target customer is someone who has already invested in VR technology, such as having a gaming PC or other VR accessories like index controllers or Vive trackers.

• It is technically capable of being plugged into a laptop for those who want to use it for a three-off experience, but further investigation is needed on whether it has been implemented yet.

Building Custom Wearable Computers

In this section, the speaker discusses how they see their VR headset as a business and building custom wearable computers for each individual.

The Business

• The speaker sees this as a business and is building custom wearable computers for each individual.

• The device is built to be lightweight and perfectly fit to the user's face and eyes, making it comfortable to wear for extended periods.

Impressions of the Big Screen VR Headset

In this section, the speaker shares their impressions of the Big Screen VR headset, focusing on its facial interface and display technology.

Facial Interface

• The facial interface was perfectly contoured to the speaker's face structure, resulting in no light bleed and a highly immersive experience.

• The squishiness of the facial interface made it comfortable to wear for extended periods.

• The balance between how tight the elastic headband is versus how much the face interface is pressed against one's face needs to be tweaked.

Display Technology

• The Big Screen VR headset uses a micro OLED panel that is miniaturized into a one-inch form factor with a resolution of 2560 by 2560 pixels for each panel.

• The visual experience is high fidelity with 28 pixels per degree, which is higher than what can be found in other VR headsets like Quest 2 or Quest Pro but not as high as Vario Aero.

• Colors are great, but brightness may not be as bright as modern LCD panels due to using pancake optics.

• There were some artifacts that made it clear there were lenses in front of the image during dark scenes, but more testing will be needed to determine if this will be distracting over longer play sessions.

Target Audience

• The Big Screen VR headset seems catered towards existing VR enthusiasts who want higher resolution and something they can wear for longer periods of time.

• It also seems targeted towards sim gamers who want a more immersive experience while playing games like Half-Life Alex or using big screen VR.