Virtual Reality: A Lens to A New World

Have you ever wondered how the lenses in virtual reality viewers work? The science and technology behind these devices is incredibly interesting, especially since a VR viewer can range from a simple operation like Google Cardboard to a more sophisticated model like the Oculus Rift. No matter on which end of the spectrum your virtual reality viewer resides, the essential technology remains the same. Understanding The Human Eye To fully grasp how lenses used in VR viewers do their jobs, it will be helpful to have a basic understanding of how the human eye’s own lens functions to focus light and process our vision. The lens of the eye is responsible for bending, adjusting, and focusing the light which reaches the back of your eye, where it is processed into an image your brain can understand. Problems with the eyes’ lenses cause common vision problems such as near-sightedness. How VR Lenses Work VR lenses are utilized in conjunction with mathematical algorithms and computer graphics to hide the edges of the VR viewer and recalculate the image you see whenever you turn your head, according to Time. VR headsets use special lenses which correct the angle of light so that it can be optimized by your eye, therefore tricking your eye into thinking that you are perceiving an image much farther away. A Range of VR Lenses The official Google Cardboard VR viewer is equipped with lenses made of plastic acrylic. In other words, obtaining your own lenses like the Google VR lenses can be as simple as acquiring a piece of plastic with good curvature, such as from a clear, empty bottle. Numerous do-it-yourself projects exist online, instructing curious users how to make their own VR viewers using this kind of resourcefulness. For an equally inexpensive but more expertly designed VR viewer, one that can even be custom-made for your needs, DODOcaseVR offers a variety of custom cardboard models similar to the Google Cardboard. These include the P1 Popup and P2 Popup! In fact, DODOcaseVR was Google’s first partner in the Works with Google Cardboard program. Alternatively, some other more expensive VR viewers use Fresnel lens technology to maximize the sharpness of an image. From Google VR lenses to more complicated models such as Fresnel lenses, you will encounter some form of lens technology when you experience VR for yourself firsthand—that is, if you haven’t done so already! Whether you’re a VR veteran or if you’re looking for a simple but impactful first experience with virtual reality, get excited about perusing our affordable and custom products at DODOcaseVR.