Oct 30, 2017 Virtual Reality Equipment, Software, and Computers: How to Get Involved

Dear Readers,

I’m pleased to announce the installation of three virtual reality workstations in the Knowledge Commons, open to all students, faculty, and staff, on level 2 of the J. Willard Marriott Library. In addition to exploring circulation usage of virtual reality equipment, we have also been experimenting with installations of more permanent setups, like what you can find in the Knowledge Commons. Here you will find two Oculus Rifts and one HTC Vive, ready for student, faculty, and staff use. A use case might range from the casual explorer who wants to see what all the fuss is about to the serious developer who might want to explore the stylistic differences between competing hardware vendors.

The way the equipment works is this:

• Log into the workstation like any other lab computer using your uNID and CIS password
• Check out the relevant controllers (they come in sets of 2)
• Once logged in, launch either the Oculus or SteamVR software and follow on-screen prompts to calibrate the play-area, connect the controllers, and launch software

We can provide support via consultations setup through our email list: mlib-creativespaces@lists.utah.edu to help you navigate the software installation process (if you’re looking to install new software), the software creation process (though this can be daunting), or just for software recommendations. Things to check out today might include: Google Earth VR, The Lab, Anyland, AltSpace VR, or High Fidelity.

Let us know how your experience goes!

Reach us by:

Email: mlib-creativespaces@lists.utah.edu
Web: http://lib.utah.edu/services/creative-spaces

T.J. Ferrill
Assistant Head of Creative Spaces
thomas.ferrill@utah.edu

View the original article on the Creativity and Innovation Services Blog