The new Facebook
{{#url}}Oculus Quest 2{{/url}}{{^url}}Oculus Quest 2{{/url}}
isn’t just about playing games. Facebook also debuted a concept called “Infinite Office,” a Facebook “experiment” that will move the concept of multiple displays into virtual reality when it debuts this winter.Facebook will even get around the problem of typing in VR—when, otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to see your hands—by partnering with Logitech on a keyboard. The Infinite Office keyboard will exist in the real world and be seen by the Oculus Quest 2 hardware as well.
Facebook’s idea is that productivity should exist in the virtual space, as well as in the real world. With so many people working from home, they may not have a large physical workspace upon which they can mount many monitors—which improves productivity for most people. By placing those monitors in a virtual space, Infinite Office allows users to surround themselves with screens, and thus accomplish more during their workday.
Key to the Facebook Infinite Office experience will be the
{{#url}}Oculus Quest 2{{/url}}{{^url}}Oculus Quest 2{{/url}}
, the new $299 Oculus standalone VR headset that’s both lighter and more comfortable, and with higher resolution—close to 2K—on each eye. Facebook hopes that the combination of the two will result in a less fatiguing virtual environment. It’s not clear, however, how Facebook will accommodate the Quest 2’s 2.5-hour battery life—perhaps with the new battery-pack accessory the company announced as well.The Quest 2 operates using either a controller or, now, with limited hand detection. We can hope that the partnership with Logitech is using actual key presses to input data, rather than trying to interpret quick taps of ten fingers. Oculus also disclosed that it will be using its own Oculus browser as a web interface for users, rather than the more traditional Microsoft Edge or Chrome.
Facebook isn’t saying much about what it’s calling an “experiment.” The company plans to roll it out in what appears to be a limited beta this winter, and it disclosed a partnership with Spatial, a collaborative AR platform. Eventually, we may see whether virtual monitors are as effective as physical displays.
This website uses cookies. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of cookies. Click Here to learn more about how we use cookies.
You’ll soon be able to play PC VR games wirelessly through your Oculus Quest 2, or work in VR with virtual monitors, thanks to this major update that is being rolled out for Oculus Quest 2 [reviewed here]. But there are some limitations.
AIR LINK WIRELESS PC VR
Oculus announced that it is enabling the Quest 2 to play PC VR games wirelessly using a new feature called Air Link. Previously, you could use the Quest or Quest 2 to play PC VR games using Oculus Link, which uses a USB 3.0 cable. Although the quality was very similar to a regular desktop VR headset such as Rift or Rift S, the cable detracted from the immersiveness.
Fortunately, you can also play PC VR games wirelessly on Quest or Quest 2 using an app called Virtual Desktop [see tutorial here]. Now, Oculus wants to implement wireless PC VR as a feature of Oculus Quest 2, without the need for a third party app.
The new wireless PC VR will be called Air Link, and as with Virtual Desktop, it will still require a VR-ready PC. Air Link will be included in version 28 of the Oculus app, which will be rolled out to users in phases. In addition to a VR ready PC, you’ll need to install the Oculus desktop app, and connect your PC via ethernet cable to a 5ghz wireless router.
Oculus stated that Air Link will be available for Quest 2 but they did not say it would also be made available to the original Quest. Part of the reason could be the Quest 2’s more powerful Snapdragon XR2 processor, compared to the original Quest’s Snapdragon 835.
Although owners of the original Quest won’t get Air Link, they will still be able to play wireless PC VR using Virtual Desktop or ALVR [another app that can enable wireless PC VR].
INFINITE OFFICE
The other major update coming to Quest 2 is Infinite Office [hands-on test here], which is a suite of features that to make it possible to work in VR. Imagine wearing your Quest and seeing multiple virtual monitors. Rather than seeing a virtual environment, the monitors will be overlaid on your surroundings, similar to AR, except that the virtual monitors can be visible anywhere around you, not just in a small area. The monitors will also be persistent, so you’ll be able to move from place to place without losing your work.
Another aspect of Infinite Office is support for physical keyboards. The Logitech K830 [around $95] is a keyboard that will be visible within the Quest, making it easier to type in VR. You’ll also be able to bring your desk into VR by placing a VR model of a desk over your physical desk.
120 Hz refresh rate and other improvements
There will be other improvements in addition to Air Link and Infinite Office. Oculus Quest 2’s refresh rate is also increasing from 90 Hz to 120 Hz on supported games, for an even smoother VR experience. 120 Hz is is higher than even some desktop VR headsets [which are usually around 80 to 90 Hz] and equal to high-end VR headsets such as Valve Index. It’s a remarkable technical achievement for a headset that is running on a mobile processor.
The guardian virtual boundary will also be upgraded so that if anybody or anything enters your guardian, the passthrough mode will be activated. This could be very useful for those who have pets for example.
I’m hoping that with these improvements, it will eventually be feasible to use your VR headset as an extension of your home office.