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VR desktop server / wireless client


Bob Eisenman

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I was reading about a desktop 'server' and wireless client (phone) software called 'Trinus'

If you have a Smartphone like my Moto G then you know the absence of a gyroscope limits its potential as a VR display device when using VR goggles. The following text describes my experience with 'Trinus'.

With Trinus installed on my Windows 10 laptop I can stream any desktop display (360 video, games , whatever is displayed) through a wireless router to the client device for VR vewing of the (left/right eye) split video stream. A 360 video stream position can be controlled with keyboard keys or (I've read) with a gyro mouse (a mouse with a gyroscope).

I'm currently shopping for a VR headset to hold the phone (wireless Trinus client).

Watching 360 video from YouTube  in VR should be an easy task for Trinus. At low resolution settings and appropriate stream compression settings my full screen desktop 360fly videos (circular and equi-rectangular) can be watched on the client display (the smartphone).

Trinus Software purchase cost: (< $10)

Trial version: ( free for 15 minute sessions)

https://www.trinusvirtualreality.com

Android 'Trinus' Client (free trial) or (full version) purchase - from Google Play Store.

Trinus server software for Windows - from the Trinus website

My steps for use :

1- connect (and start) the wireless router to the laptop with a short LAN cable

2- connect the wireless client device to the detected wireless WiFi network

3-start the client on the phone

4- start the server on the desktop

5-wait for the server to find the client on the network  and display it's IP #

6-press the start button (lower right corner) on the desktop server display

7- desktop content (ex 360video) captured from the desktop starts to stream to the client

 

 

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Sounds good.  Be aware of a few things though. Controlling movement in VR using anything other then your body movement can cause extreme motion sickness. The world moves but your inner ear doesn't detect it. The simple act of watching a moving video such as the kind you take on your wheel can cause it as the world moves and lurches around you. Also lag between control input and what you see can cause a similar effect so the latency of a wireless network could also effect you. Finally due to wireless bandwidth you may not be able to maintain a sufficient refresh rate which can upset the mind.

It sounds exciting but I wanted to warn you that it could make you feel unwell initially and if this happens take a break. Pushing through VR sickness does not work and you will feel bad all day. Much better to have a rest. Your resistance to it will build up over time.

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3 hours ago, Bob Eisenman said:

I'm currently shopping for a VR headset to hold the phone (wireless Trinus client).

Big Lots has them for I think 15 dollars, and Walmart also.  The local 99 cent only store has some for $6.99.  All the do is hold the phone in complete darkness, right?

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwi05_nZiMvWAhXQVw0KHUY5AvcYABAFGgJxYg&sig=AOD64_1JWwcPJ6Kggn2yoCa-iNS5kzKThQ&ctype=47&q=&ved=0ahUKEwiKi_LZiMvWAhUEhlQKHSmUAPcQ9aACCDE&adurl=

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On 9/29/2017 at 11:46 AM, WARPed1701D said:

There you go!

This gyroscopic mouse should be enough.

47913.jpg

 

DVDs look good. Can't wait to try and look at my 360fly videos using the gyro mouse attached to headphones. Following the mouse icon is mostly impossible with Trinus. Removal of the goggles is usually required to use the mouse/desktop when interacting with software. I wear glasses , so the soft foam construction of the Merge goggles promotes a good fit with my glasses (absolute requirement).

The Trinus stream codec imparts a fine rectangular grid over the display that might bother pure 4k enthusiasts who want absolute video clarity or need to visually 'read' text that is streamed. For now Trinus client/server looks just fine for motion video like the Sting concert DVD I recently watched.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/3/2017 at 1:52 PM, Bob Eisenman said:

There you go!

My USPS tracking number for the gyroscopic mouse tells me it is out for delivery today (Fri. 13th). While waiting for the delivery I've found two more items of interest. The first is a Windows 10 based system and VR headset running about $500, similar I'd guess to a server - client setup but polished for Microsoft:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-mixed-reality

The hardware specs are strict and can be evaluated by running an app for Windows device inspection. My two year old Windows 10 acer laptop (no Nvidia graphics with Intel Core i5 -  2.3 GHz) doesn't make the cut on several levels.

50279.JPG

The alternative VR setup which uses a gyroscopic smartphone appears to be attainable with a smartphone such as the $104 Xiaomi Redmi 4a. Buying a smartphone is a lot like buying an Android tablet with a smaller size plus phone capability. The apps available for Android phones which display VR are readily available and for $104 the Xiaomi Android phone looks like a lower cost (Compared to Samsung Galaxy) but capable choice (ships from China), possibly usable at public websites (library) without even buying a sim card phone plan.

For my old Moto G I like the app Vars Pro which allows url entry for internet VR display including YouTube 360 and regular non-360 displays.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Xiaomi-Redmi-4A-5-0-2GB-16GB-5MP-13MP-Infrared-Gyroscope-WiFi-Direct-Unlocked-/172473665678?var=&hash=item28283b488e:m:mEc7hVuiqB_BXC4jcan8kvA

50280.JPG

 

 

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Well....I don't think my choice of a gyroscopic mouse will lead to its use as a head tracking device for VR. However, I've always wanted a pointer mouse with gyroscopic capability and a (left-right-up-down) device button which also can be used to rotate 360 video using the handheld device rather than with a traditional keyboard.

The video has two parts.

Part#1 shows the use of the gyroscopic mouse to open a desktop TV app on Vista, resize the TV display and move the TV display about the desktop monitor.

Part#2 shows the use of the Trinus Windows laptop server and an Android Smartphone device running the Trinus client. The gyroscopic handheld pointer mouse opens the Trinus app, the 360fly desktop manager and the selected 360fly video. While the 360 video is running it is moved (rotated) left-right-up-down with the corresponding gyro pointer mouse device keys. An Android phone in the lower left shows the Trinus client display as it would appear when using VR goggles. The Android VR display is wirelessly receiving the video from the Trinus laptop server via a wireless router connected to the laptop.

 

 

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For watching 360 videos from YouTube the viewer can rotate the video by either interfacing with:

1-the YouTube screen displayed 'up-down-right-left' arrow key menu buttons 

OR

2-by pressing the keyboard ' a-w-s-d' keys

When wearing VR goggles neither of the two choices are pragmatic for the vision obstructed viewer. The gyroscopic pointer mouse that I've chosen is Mini Fly Air Mouse T2 2.4G Wireless 3D Remote Sensing Android Remote Air Mouse which has buttons for 'up-down-right-left'. 

If one 'maps the 'a-w-s-d' keys to the 'up-down-right-left' keys with a third party software then the handheld gyroscopic mouse pointer can be used to roughly move the YouTube 360 video while wearing VR goggles. I found a software which allows the creative programmer to write a script file which maps the 'a-w-s-d' keys to the 'up-down-left-right' keys. This script file works for both the keyboard located 'up-down-right-left' keys as well as the gyroscopic pointer mouse located buttons.

Using the Windows software (32 bit) called 'AutoHotKey' ,

https://www.autohotkey.com/

Internet Explorer (Edge) browser, my Windows 10 laptop and a modified 'AutoHotKey' script file I found on the internet, the rotation of the 360 YouTube video within the browser by using the handheld gyroscopic pointer mouse becomes possible.

Note that neither Firefox nor Chrome browsers playing 360 YouTube videos worked with the running 'AutoHotKey' script.

Also note that I programmed a stop function into the script which allows the user to stop the running script by pressing the escape key.

I run the scripts with Administrator privilege. If you look at the script you will notice a variable 'i' which can be set to a value from 1 to 100 or more. I've found that I=10 produces faster 360 video rotations and I=100 produces much slower 360 video rotations per key presses. If you are comfortable reading and learning to use a script file with very few commands then my script for 360 YouTube video (run on IE browser) might work for you, if you own gyroscopic pointer mouse with those buttons.

AutoHotKey is a very complex software. My script is a very simple (and first try) implementation of AutoHotKey. A better programmer might find that an alternatively written script would work better for rotating 360 YouTube videos by mapping the 'a-w-s-d' keys to the 'up-down-right-left' keys found on the gyroscopic pointer mouse I use.

********the following commands are the script file (my-script.ahk)  I've used with 'AutoHotKey'***********

;this script substitutes keyboard arrow key presses with a,w,s,d 'sends' for use with 360 video rotations like Youtube 360 videos
;10-14-2017 Bob Eisenman : modified from
;https://autohotkey.com/board/topic/42368-repeat-key-macro/

;set interval i
;10=faster rotation per press 50=slower, 100=much slower
i=20
;press left arrow key
Left up:: x--
$Left::
x = 1
while x {
 sendinput {a}
 sleep i
} return

;press right arrow key
Right up:: x--
$Right::
x = 1
while x {
 sendinput {d}
 sleep i
} return

Up up:: x--
$Up::
x = 1
while x {
 sendinput {w}
 sleep i
} return
Down up:: x--
$Down::
x = 1
while x {
 sendinput {s}
 sleep i
} return
;stop script by pressing escape
Escape::
ExitApp
Return

 

 

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On ‎9‎/‎29‎/‎2017 at 3:51 PM, Hunka Hunka Burning Love said:

They even got VR Porn these days :dribble:, but I probably wouldn't suggest checking that out in the local coffee shop.  :whistling:  Or so I hear.  :innocent1:

check out this virtual date...at a coffee shop or the library:

 

 

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