vrslide – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

July 20, 2018

Therme Erding eröffnet VR-Reifen-Wasserrutsche VRSlide

VR-Attraktionen finden bereits in diversen Freizeitparks Anwendung, um den Besucher/innen ein rasantes Fahrterlebnis zu ermöglichen. Nun bringt die Therme Erding die erste VR-Reifenrutsche VRSlide nach Deutschland und bietet den Besucher/innen dadurch ein besonderes Badeerlebnis. Die Kombination aus VR-Technologie und Wasserrutsche entstand in Kooperation zwischen dem führenden Rutschenhersteller Wiegand und Maelzer, Samsung und dem amerikanischen Entwicklerstudio Ballast.

Therme Erding – Erste VR-Reifen-Wasserrutsche VRSlide in Galaxy Erding eröffnet

Die Therme Erding beheimatet eine neue Attraktion für seine Badegäste: Die VR-Wasserrutsche VRSlide, die Besucher/innen mit einer wasserdichten VR-Brille ausstattet und in einem Reifen in das feucht fröhliche Vergnügen schickt.

Innerhalb der virtuellen Umgebung wird eine galaktische Weltraumfahrt mit Planeten, Asteroiden und Raumschiffen simuliert. Dank der Reifenrutsche soll somit, eine tiefere Immersion entsteht. Technisch beinhaltet die 390 Gramm schwere Brille ein integriertes Samsung Galaxy S8 mit Pass-Through-Kamera, das die mit Unity erstellte Custom-Software für die VR-Erfahrung abspielt. Dank der Entwicklungsplattform kann das virtuelle Erlebnis jederzeit mit Updates versorgt oder erweitert werden. Zudem sind die Verantwortlichen in der Lage stets neue digitale Rutscherfahrungen aufzuspielen.

Image courtesy: Ballast

Das patentierte Tracking-System nutzt sowohl Ultraschall- sowie Beschleunigungssensoren, um die genaue Position der Brille zu erfassen. Die Daten werden kabellos per WLAN an die Basisstationen versendet, wo diese ausgewertet werden. Dadurch soll unabhängig von Körpergröße und Gewicht eine akkurate Positionserfassung stattfinden. Laut den Devs von Ballast VR soll sogar die Motion Sickness innerhalb der VR-Erfahrung eliminiert werden. Die Brille wird in speziellen Docking-Station geladen und kann zeitgleich kabellos Informationen des Tages zur Datenauswertung senden. Dadurch können die Betreiber/innen jederzeit und einfach die Hardware austauschen.

Die VRSlide ist ab sofort in der Therme Erding im Rutschbereich Galaxy Erding in der 160 Meter langen Rutsche Space Glider zugänglich. Eine Fahrt kostet zwei Euro vor Ort.

(Quellen: Road to VR | Ballast VR | Therme Erding | Video: Ballast VR Youtube)

Der Beitrag Therme Erding eröffnet VR-Reifen-Wasserrutsche VRSlide zuerst gesehen auf VR∙Nerds. VR·Nerds am Werk!

July 18, 2018

Germany’s Galaxy Erding Water Park now has a VR Attraction

Theme parks using virtual reality (VR) is nothing new, with locations like Six Flags and Alton Towers utilising the technology to enhance rollercoasters with immersive imagery. Combining high-tech VR equipment with water on the other hand might seem like a foolhardy attempt to bring water parks into the 21st Century but that’s exactly what Galaxy Erding in Germany has done with VRSlide.

VRSlide

The attraction opened a few months ago at the water park with the technology developed by German startup Ballast. The custom designed headset is completely waterproof (up to several meters) whilst utilizing technology like wireless charging, NFC and a pass-through camera, all weighting in at 393.3 grams.

Powered by an integrated Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone, the custom system uses a dual tracking system that combines ultrasound sensors which establish the rider’s position which accelerometer data that helps confirm their position on the slide. All of which the company claims “eliminates most motion sickness” for an enjoyable VR experience.

The headsets themselves dock in a custom design charging cabinet that wirelessly sends information from that day’s operations to Ballast’s secure servers. This data allows the company to produce pecise analytic reports about rider capacity, content selection and headset performance to optimise the experience.

VRSlide

While a lot of the roller coaster rides which employ VR only offer one type of visual experience, due to the nature of water parks and guests ability to enjoy the same ride over and over again Ballast has developed several pieces of VR content so guest can enjoy a different experience each time. The headset is placed by a staff member on one of three docks which then alters the content.

And because Ballast use the Unity game engine it can easily push through updates or make entirely new content.

VRSlide is part of a much bigger vision at Ballast with the company developing a unique underwater VR attraction that will let guests feel like they are swimming with pods of whales, schools of dolphins and even sharks. For further updates, keep reading VRFocus.

July 18, 2018

One of Europe’s Largest Water Parks Now Has a VR Water Slide

One of Europe’s largest water parks, Therme Erding’s Galaxy Erding water park in Germany, has a new claim to fame: a water slide that outfits guests with a VR headset. Dubbed VRSlide, the system includes a water-resistant VR headset powered by a Samsung Galaxy S8 for a deep dive through the waters of the digital unknown.

As first reported by The Verge, the VR headset system was developed by American startup Ballast VR and includes a number of features that aim to keep park guests moving through the lines at a regular pace.

At 393.3 grams (~0.8 pounds), the headset features wireless charging, NFC, and a pass-through camera. VRSlide headsets are tracked by Ballast’s patented tracking system, which is accomplished through a mix of ultrasound sensors for the slide rider’s position and accelerometer to further confirm the position. The company maintains the precision of their tracking system “eliminates most motion sickness commonly felt in early virtual reality experiences.”

Each headset docks in a dedicated charging cabinet and wirelessly sends information from that day’s operations to the company’s servers, which allows Ballast to do things like generate analytic reports about rider capacity, update content, and detail each headset’s performance.

The company’s VR water slide experiences were developed in Unity, something Ballast says allows them to “easily make tweaks, push updates and create brand new experiences … [so] guests have something new to look forward to with every visit.”

VRSlide is available on the park’s 160 meter (~520 ft) long innertube slide ‘Space Glider’, and now that the heat waves are finally here, there may be no better time to hit the water park and try out the sort of experience that was once only available to VR roller coaster riders.

The post One of Europe’s Largest Water Parks Now Has a VR Water Slide appeared first on Road to VR.