If you think normal VR has become a monotonous experience and want something that takes it to the next level, then, Galaxy Erding in Germany might have the perfect solution. We are talking about none another than the new VR water slide, VRSlide.
We have seen VR being utilized in roller coasters before at the Superman ride at Six Flags in Maryland. But to have the same in a water slide, let’s see how they managed to do that.
Now, the first thing that you think is how the mix of electronics and water is going to turn out. Well, VRSlide has the answer to that as the hardware is basically a modded version Samsung galaxy VR headset that is made waterproof. It houses a Samsung Galaxy S8 inside the VR headset. The S8 inside the headset is specially made for providing VR experience to the user and run custom software that tunes the phone’s hardware for delivering high-quality VR renderings. The whole VR experience is made possible by using Unity Engine.
VRSlide is the brainchild of Ballast, the VR based company who views the VRSlide as a stepping-stone to create a more immersive world that would embrace itself as an aquatic VR Setup.
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Currently, the one ride on the VR water slide costs €2 ($2.33). From launch until now, the company has earned close to $84,000 in revenue
The movement tracking is done by utilizing two different sets of data and combining them to form a complete tracking methodology. It uses the inertial movement of the users with reference to ultrasonic beepers to gain data on the user’s movement. After that, a powerful AI will take care of the part where the VR imagery needs to be matched with the user’s position.
The waterproofing qualities of the headset ensure that the headset doesn’t face any water damage or short-circuits. The headset is enabled with wireless charging that helps to avoid conventional ports that may act as a point of failure.
If we were to glance at the topic of public reception, the opinion goes two ways. Some love the addition of technology to an already fun-filled activity. While there are plenty of criticisms that pictures the VRSLide as an unnecessary invention that ruins the raw fun of going down a twisty and slippery water slide.