Released in May 2019, the Oculus Quest Headset has been one of the most popular virtual reality headsets. With its initial success, Oculus (owned by Facebook) developed and released the Oculus Quest 2 in October 2020. At the time of this writing, Facebook has not kept up with the demand for these headsets and could not fulfill many holiday orders. This article will discuss the popular Oculus Quest hand tracking feature that is now available.
What is Hand Tracking?
Hand Tracking is a feature found on the Oculus Quest and the newer Quest 2 VR headsets. It enables a more in-depth immersion for the user in the gameplay as it substitutes the use of hand controllers for the user's hands.
This video will give you an overview and demo of how Hand Tracking works
The Move Towards Hand Tracking
Hand tracking on the Oculus Quest 2 is new but should be a feature that users appreciate and enjoy. Activated on the Oculus Quest 2 menu, you can switch between hand tracking and controller mode at any time.
Application developers take advantage of hand tracking functionality to make their experiences more life-like and engaging. If an application does not support hand tracking, it will probably only be a matter of time until they add it.
Games and Experiences That Support Hand Tracking
To determine if an app supports hand tracing, view the product details page in the Oculus Store.
The following are some applications that incorporate the use of Hand Tracking: controller freehand tracking.
Richies plank experience
Richie's Plank Experience is a prevalent VR title. It is known for immersive moments that surpass many other Vr experiences.
With the recent update for the Oculus Quest version of the game, hand tracking is supported, which adds to the lifelike experience of the game.
The game in its original state was terrifying enough. We have been to events where participants fall to their knees and crawl across the plank as they shake from fear of falling. Note in reality; they are about 2 inches off the ground when on a plank.
The addition of hand tracking, without the need for hand controllers, further enhances the game. The user will feel like they are really are standing on a plank suspended off the side of a skyscraper.
Elixir
Elixir was first showed this game at Oculus Connect 6, where attendees could try it out as a demo.
Once it was released with hand tracking, the game was made available to the public as a free download. It is a good demonstration of how VR hand tracking works and what you can do with hand tracking.
Do We Recommend the New Oculus Quest 2?
Much of the Quest 2's appeal is because it's a standalone headset. Headsets such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive require a tether to a high-end computer at the end of a cable and rely on the computer processing. So if not being connected to a computer is an advantage, we would definitely recommend the Quest 2.
A review of the Oculus Quest 2 by Forbes
The Oculus Quest 2 in a Nutshell
Pros:
• Excellent resolution
• Works completely wireless or tethered to a PC
• Superb pricing
Cons:
• Headstrap is uncomfortable (Users can purchase optional head straps)
• Mandatory Facebook login
Tech Radar Review of The Oculus Quest 2
According to Tech Radar, small changes made to the Quest 2 make a big difference over Quest 1. With up to a 50% improvement in resolution.
They conclude that while Quest 2 is the most accessible and feature-rich VR headset to date, it does not eliminate some of the pitfalls that virtual reality as a whole suffers.
There's still the chance you'll experience a degree of motion sickness, depending on your constitution, which is unavoidable on most headsets – even those that claim to have solved these problems.
Games confirmed for Quest and quest 2
More than 200 titles are now available for the Quest 2, and more are actively in development.
The Facebook Issue
One element of the Quest 2 that likely appeals to many consumers is not well received in the corporate market.
The New Quest 2 requires a Facebook account to use the headset. Existing Quest users need to create their Facebook accounts by January 2023.
Time will tell how corporate clients view this requirement and if it is bothersome enough to look elsewhere for solutions.
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