Microsoft HoloLens, HTC Valve Vive, and Samsung Virtual Reality (VR)

      Today, technology companies are constantly surprising consumers with new and unexpected advancements. The newest creation by some of the technology field's biggest companies are virtual reality devices. HTC created the Re Vive, Microsoft has created the HoloLens, and Samsung has created Samsung VR. In this blog post I will summarize what these devices are and what makes them different from each other.          

     The first VR device I will discuss is the HTC Vive. HTC teamed up with gaming company Valve to create the Vive. The Vive consists of a VR headset, two hand-held controllers, and a base station. The feature that makes the Vive unique from the other VR devices I will discuss in this post is its ability to track a persons physical motions. In other words, you can control the movements of a character in a game just by moving your body. This is a huge advancement in the VR field and definitely sets the Vive apart from the others. One negative aspect of the Vive is that it attaches directly to a computer so their are cables that may sometimes get in the way. Although this is a negative, it can also be considered a positive because it allows the Vive to have greater processing power and it will overheat less.

     The next VR device I will discuss is the Microsoft HoloLens. The Microsoft HoloLens consists of a small headset that looks like a pair of tinted glasses with a head band attached. HoloLens is different from the HTC Vive and the Samsung VR because it is an augmented-reality device rather then a VR device. What this means is that it combines VR with the real world using holographic technology. The HoloLens contains motion sensors that allow you to use your hands to complete tasks using the device. A few pros of the HoloLens are that it is a rather small, stand alone headset, it blends the real world with holograms, and its motion-sensing capabilities make it more interactive then other devices. The one con for the HoloLens is what it will be used for. That remains a rather important question for Microsoft. Some consumers are comparing it to Google Glass in a sense that people weren't really sure what to do with it. I think the HoloLens is a huge advancement from Google Glass but what it will be used for still remains in question.
     The last device I will discuss is the Samsung Gear VR. The Gear VR is consists of a headset that you connect your Samsung phone into. One pro of the Gear VR is that it doesn't require any cables, so you are free to move around a room or your house without worrying about cables. It is a VR device, so although you have the freedom to walk around, you wouldn't be able to see around. The Gear VR runs off of a Samsung Galaxy phone so it uses Android. Another pro of the Gear VR is that you can watch 3D television and movies. Although the Gear VR is a great idea, it does have a few cons. One such con is that you have to have one of the right phones. I believe it only works on two versions of the Samsung Galaxy. Another con is that it is not interactive like the HTC Vive and the Microsoft HoloLens. One last con is that you have to use your hands to click buttons on the headset when going through menus or playing games. This can be kind of a hassle since you'll basically have to have your hands up on the head set at all times like you're looking through a pair of binoculars.
     All of these devices are great advancements in technology. Although some of there uses are in question I believe they will all be successful. To find out more information about these devices go to http://immersiveeducation.org/buzz.