2019 Presently, Why VR Is Still More Important Than AR, See The Upcoming 2020's
Or a better title might be how you can still do “Open Source VR” with HTML5 on your PC or Mac inside a browser (but you’ll still need a Windows machine to view the result with a tethered VR headset, exception with a “less powerful stand alone headset”, i.e. Oculus Quest). Still waiting to see Apple’s AR/VR Hardware poker cards. . . sometime this 2020?
Today’s hype is about AR not VR, but many don’t realize that VR has come a long way in the last few years . . . Many powerful headsets are now in the $400 range. That still seems like a lot of money if you’ll also need a PC with a powerful graphics card!
However if you are already a PC gamer, you’re halfway there to being able to develop your own VR applications in a web page. Think of that, no special software downloads, just a compatible browser, headset, PC and a fast internet connection required.
Also, if you are already a web developer, or want to become one, the bar for entry is much lower thanks to Three.js, Mozilla and a special Github repository called A-Frame. So you say, VR games are still higher res, faster playing and just plain much more fun.
Well I’m not going to argue that, but what I’m talking about is being able to build your own “VR Experiences” that will not only impress but give you new skills as well. Also, I’ll bet you almost anything what you learn in VR will be applicable in AR when software and the hardware finally matures. There is little to no waste here in learning these skills, so let’s begin!
SECTIONS BELOW: HTML5, JavaScript, WebVR, A-Frame, Useful A-Frame Libraries and Examples, VR Hardware Requirements, All Together Now, My VR Site (Self-Plug), WebXR Posted At End Of 2019.
The purpose and structure of this article is to encourage you (hopefully done above) and will be mostly to provide links to other articles and videos which will help you along your journey to learning VR with HTML5 and JavaScript. Some of these links are older, but still relevant (if not, search for better more recent ones).
I’m not going to explain much else, which means it’s going to be very confusing (sorry, but that’s just how it is, remember the learning is free). It’s up to you to self-learn and explore, ask lots of questions. Search for the right answers . . . develop new skills. Much effort is involved. Good Luck!!!
First a few terms (you can skip those you already basically know):
HTML5
https://www.techradar.com/news/internet/web/html5-what-is-it-1047393
JavaScript
WebVR
A-Frame
https://github.com/aframevr/aframe
Useful A-Frame Libraries and Examples
VR Hardware Requirements
As of 2019, the Ninetendo and Sony Playstations are NOT VR hardware options for this Open Source development of VR. Oculus, Windows Mixed Reality and HTC Vive headsets ARE.
https://www.pcmag.com/article/342537/the-best-virtual-reality-vr-headsets
All Together Now
My VR Site (Self-Plug)
WebXR Posted At End Of 2019
Finally to finish up this post, there is a new standard called WebXR which combines VR with AR. It may break some of the older examples, most likely will. But at least you’ll be on the path to the future of VR and AR development in the 2020's!
