While virtual reality (VR) content development primarily focuses on videogame entertainment there’s also practical applications coming for the home user. What if you want to work in VR, look through word documents, browse online and do everything else you’d normally do on a desktop. Well for owners of either the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive head-mounted displays (HMDs) you’ll be able to this week with the arrival of BigScreen.
Created by BigScreen Inc., the BigScreen Beta will launch free of charge this Thursday, 28th April 2016 via Steam for those that want to view their Windows desktop on giant screens while in a virtual environment. You’ll be able to play your Steam videogames, watch Netflix/YouTube/Twitch on a customisable screen that can range from 30 inches to 65 inch curved TV sizes. Or go even larger with 20 foot wall sized displays.
BigScreen will feature public and private rooms for online multiplayer, with support for up to 4 people. But what’s interesting in the multiplayer feature list is the ‘cross-platform support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive’, allowing owners of either HMD to play against each other.
There’s a lot of immersive possibilities for BigScreen Beta but its not the only one in this field. Having already launched for the same headsets is Virtual Desktop by Guy Godin. This again has similar functionality and it’ll be an avenue of VR that more users of VR will likely explore as the software develops.
Continue reading VRFocus for all the latest details on BigScreen Beta.
