VR as a means to a lying down desk

carrierPigeon

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 22, 2017
Messages
162
I am interested in VR as an alternative to a lying down desk. I want to be able to lie on my bed on my back and be on the computer. There are not a lot of lying down products offered, they are expensive, they put you in a pretty static position (which you could get tired of), and they can take up a fair bit of space in one's house.

Here are the things that I would be looking to do:
1) Web browsing, in this order of importance: text based, then video (Youtube)
2) Coding

Right now I have a basic Windows 10 desktop computer (which I use for just about everything) with an MSI R7240, a 2012 Mac Mini, and a garbage laptop. No impressive phones that would be able to support the mobile VR devices. Of course, I could buy additional hardware (phone, video card, play station 4) but at some point I the whole thing would be cost ineffective (I am not sure at what point that would happen, let me throw out a guess of $800).

Someone was telling me that the VR might not be good for your eyes. Does that become a concern if I am trying to use this setup for 30+ hours per week?

I think I am going to prefer using a keyboard and mouse and the VR just for sight. Although I am also interested in having the whole setup just for standing up.
 
Coding would be a pain on VR. I do not code but if you plan to code slow, it would be good.(probably more like super slow) Typing is not the fastest on a virtual keyboard.
Web browsing and text stuff looks good on the Rift. I do not have the Vive so I can't say how it looks.
 
Coding would be a pain on VR. I do not code but if you plan to code slow, it would be good.(probably more like super slow) Typing is not the fastest on a virtual keyboard.
Web browsing and text stuff looks good on the Rift. I do not have the Vive so I can't say how it looks.
Do you know whether the keyboard would be perpendicular to my body when I am lying down (like it's designed for people that are standing up).
 
VR is too low resolution to use as a virtual desktop. It would feel like trying to code on a 640x480 resolution monitor.
 
VR is too low resolution to use as a virtual desktop. It would feel like trying to code on a 640x480 resolution monitor.
I am not sure what you have tried, but the Rift looks amazing. Have you tried it on the Rift with the new software?
 
Do you know whether the keyboard would be perpendicular to my body when I am lying down (like it's designed for people that are standing up).
I have never really played around with the keyboard too much. I would demo a rift and see if it will work for you.
 
VR is too low resolution to use as a virtual desktop. It would feel like trying to code on a 640x480 resolution monitor.
Thanks, good info. I might have to live with that. Probably just use for web browsing and youtube, then.
 
Do you think the Rift would be better than the vive for my purposes?
From what I have heard the Rift res looks better. You could try out both, though not sure where since I don't shop outside much. :)
I think that would be the best way.
 
It will be uncomfortable to wear a headset lying down and wont be as simple to operate.

The back of the head harness will put pressure on certain places. You can mitigate it a little by wearing something to distribute the weight of your head.
You cant turn your head like you would when standing up, your head will roll left/right.
Moving your head up and down will be much more difficult.
Moisture can no longer escape from the headset, it will rise into the lense/electronics. A fan mod can help.
 
It will be uncomfortable to wear a headset lying down and wont be as simple to operate.

The back of the head harness will put pressure on certain places. You can mitigate it a little by wearing something to distribute the weight of your head.
You cant turn your head like you would when standing up, your head will roll left/right.
Moving your head up and down will be much more difficult.
Moisture can no longer escape from the headset, it will rise into the lense/electronics. A fan mod can help.
He could use something on the bed like this. I use it quite often.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073DJFYB1/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
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actually, my whole purpose is to avoid the sitting position. While it's true that sitting on the bed is a little different because your feet are not on the floor, I would still consider it an uncomfortable position for someone that sits at a desk a lot, and needs a break from sitting.
I will try using the VR keyboard and stuff lying down tomorrow after work.
Are you sure you don't want this for some good VR porn?! ;)
 
I will try using the VR keyboard and stuff lying down tomorrow after work.
Are you sure you don't want this for some good VR porn?! ;)
haha, hilarious
It's really tough to find products that achieve what I am trying to do. Occasionally, I find stuff that's reasonably in line with what I am looking for, like this:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Bed...id=c5fea099-0fb4-4aca-8830-dc38dab219ce&tpp=1
but, (1) it's tough to tell how much the monitor will actually tilt once it's attached and (2) I am not so sure that having your arms in an upward position like that is possible long term. I think your arm is supposed to be downward always, long term.

What's sounding the best to me right now is this..
https://www.staples.com/Multi-Purpose-Tilt-Top-Split-Overbed-Table/product_2314141
I will turn the base 180 degrees, drill 4 holes through the tilted tabletop, and mount a small vesa monitor to the bottoms side of that.
I hope the height is high enough. But if not I can take the wheels off and try to deal with that somehow.
 
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I am laying down and besides the slow typing it is pretty nice. Just did facebook too. I should put an extender on it and kick back in bed more.
 
Maybe you need glasses or a new prescription. Text isn't the best, but websites and movies look pretty good.


That's what OP wants this for - text and coding. Though Core 2.0 did markedly improve text legibility.

Neither are great in the current incarnation due to the lower resolution. Though
where is the virtual keyboard located?

In front of you. So if you're laying down, it would be above you.
 
Maybe you need glasses or a new prescription. Text isn't the best, but websites and movies look pretty good.

I think it's the opposite. The better your vision is the worse things are by comparison in VR. If you think reading text isn't that bad in VR your vision is terrible in real life.

Text that's readable 20 feet away irl needs to be held up to your face in VR because the resolution is so lacking.
 
VR is too low resolution to use as a virtual desktop. It would feel like trying to code on a 640x480 resolution monitor.
Having tried this, it's really more like trying to code on a normally sized monitor, but without my contact lenses in. It's not the size of the display that's the problem, since you can make it virtually as big as you want, but rather that the text is hard to read.
 
This Is What Elite Dangerous Looks Like On The Pimax 8K Headset
https://www.vrandfun.com/elite-dangerous-looks-like-pimax-8k-headset/

When you watch the video you can see how clear and legible the text is in the game. It mitigates that screen-door effect that’s visible on many other HMD devices. Every word seems quite legible and the graphics look quite good in comparison to many competitors out there. While the headset is quite big and clunky, you can see why it was designed that way.

The HMD houses 2 x 3840 x 2160 displays that provides 200 FOV which is far superior than any other headset out there including the HTC Vive Pro. On paper, the Pimax boasts quite a resume with specs that are beyond any consumer ready VR headset.

 
This Is What Elite Dangerous Looks Like On The Pimax 8K Headset
https://www.vrandfun.com/elite-dangerous-looks-like-pimax-8k-headset/

When you watch the video you can see how clear and legible the text is in the game. It mitigates that screen-door effect that’s visible on many other HMD devices. Every word seems quite legible and the graphics look quite good in comparison to many competitors out there. While the headset is quite big and clunky, you can see why it was designed that way.

The HMD houses 2 x 3840 x 2160 displays that provides 200 FOV which is far superior than any other headset out there including the HTC Vive Pro. On paper, the Pimax boasts quite a resume with specs that are beyond any consumer ready VR headset.


They need to send Kyle one. Says they have chosen 10 participants. Yeah, and are they paid by Pimax.....
 
Pimax doesn't have good room scale, right? And comfort sounds meh...

I'd rate good room scale as a must have, comfort a close second and resolution close after that. So I have concerns with Pimax
 
It also doesn't have low persistence so it will have terrible motion blur. It's an LCD screen.
 
Pimax doesn't have good room scale, right? And comfort sounds meh...

I'd rate good room scale as a must have, comfort a close second and resolution close after that. So I have concerns with Pimax

It uses Steam tracking (Vive lighthouses), so yeah it has room scale.
 
It also doesn't have low persistence so it will have terrible motion blur. It's an LCD screen.

According to them it is low persistence. I didn't see any ghosting in the video, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

What display you use for Pimax 8K/5K?
We use customized low persistence liquid (CLPL) display.
CLPL is a new patented display tech we developed with our partner for VR specifically.
CLPL display featured with less liquid respond time and higher refresh rate. We have completely eliminated ghosting and improved brightness with the CLPL display. CLPL tech is on the same level with OLED in VR era. There are only minor differences in color contrast/temperature between CLPL and OLED. Also, CLPL can reach higher PPI/PPD with the same cost.
Our co-founders have over 20 years experience in display era, including many years in VR. Some of the core team members come from display industry and maintain close relationships with display suppliers. That's one of the reasons why we care about visual so much.
 
New headsets are coming with higher resolution will help with coding. I would think a mechanical bed that can give a 30° in line could help mitigate a number of problems.
 
Honestly if you dont need VR, a small hd screen strapped to your face may be better. I picked up this for drone sims and it has an hdmi input, my pc detects it as a second monitor and the desktop looks fine to me.

It doesn't really scale to feel like a big screen like VR does. It feels like a 5 inch screen several inches from your face lol. I can't say I have done any long term work with the headset on but wanted to toss out the option.
 
I have a vive, and i've used it laying down on the couch. Great for movies, hands down. Great for top down games where you use a controller or game pad. Even laying down, I did experience neck fatigue. Getting up to take a bio break or something to drink was kind of a pain to untangle myself from the wires.

I'm also an IT guy, and had dreams of using it for my day job. Not even possible. Text is impossible to read. The screen door effect gave me a head ache when reading text. I quickly abandoned dreams of a virtual desk top with 10 or 20 putty sessions open and im VRing my way to victory.

So today this second? Not exactly doable. When gen 3 and 4 head sets come out? Game changer and possible.
 
I have a vive, and i've used it laying down on the couch. Great for movies, hands down. Great for top down games where you use a controller or game pad. Even laying down, I did experience neck fatigue. Getting up to take a bio break or something to drink was kind of a pain to untangle myself from the wires.

I'm also an IT guy, and had dreams of using it for my day job. Not even possible. Text is impossible to read. The screen door effect gave me a head ache when reading text. I quickly abandoned dreams of a virtual desk top with 10 or 20 putty sessions open and im VRing my way to victory.

So today this second? Not exactly doable. When gen 3 and 4 head sets come out? Game changer and possible.
You should try the rift. I think the text looks really good on it.
 
Rift is stacks clearer than the Vive.
The lack of clarity on the Vive was the main reason I couldnt get on with it, its a big difference.
But I wouldnt like to use it as a work display.

A whacky idea that may help use it lying down.
Fill balloons with helium and tie them to a strap secured under the back of your head.
That would make it easier to rotate/dip your head :p
 
Ive already invested into a vive, while happy with it, I've put enough money towards vr at the moment and dont see a reason to go to a rift with current gen hardware today. Rift today as good as it is, there is no way I could do 40+ hours a week of my day job in it today. When Gen 3 or 4 come out? Ill compare both of them and reevaluate. Dreaming here.. but maybe vmware will make a vcenter plugin one day that allows me to use vive or rift to manage vmware with hand gestures. Just don't sneeze, could accidentally put something in maintenance mode.
 
Ive already invested into a vive, while happy with it, I've put enough money towards vr at the moment and dont see a reason to go to a rift with current gen hardware today. Rift today as good as it is, there is no way I could do 40+ hours a week of my day job in it today. When Gen 3 or 4 come out? Ill compare both of them and reevaluate. Dreaming here.. but maybe vmware will make a vcenter plugin one day that allows me to use vive or rift to manage vmware with hand gestures. Just don't sneeze, could accidentally put something in maintenance mode.
Ive already invested into a vive, while happy with it, I've put enough money towards vr at the moment and dont see a reason to go to a rift with current gen hardware today. Rift today as good as it is, there is no way I could do 40+ hours a week of my day job in it today. When Gen 3 or 4 come out? Ill compare both of them and reevaluate. Dreaming here.. but maybe vmware will make a vcenter plugin one day that allows me to use vive or rift to manage vmware with hand gestures. Just don't sneeze, could accidentally put something in maintenance mode.
The rift isn’t that much better. It’s some better, but not like, way better. I considered the virtual desktop idea too, with my rift, but it’s nowhere close to good enough. As you say, maybe a Gen 3 one might work...
 
Gen 2 will be almost there... much closer, but still not great. But by gen 3, you’ll be able to throw away your monitors. Just need to wait the 4-5 years to get there.
 
I absolutely can't wait till [H] gets their hands on the next gen stuff, and the next gen gfx cards that'll go with it. We live in exciting times.
 
I had this exact same idea so that I could work at night but wasn't a fan of trying to write code while staring straight up. Also, you better hope that whatever you are doing is engaging otherwise, goodluck staying awake.
 
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