Demonstration of VR Devices 2025

Demonstration of HTC Vive, Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, and Samsung Gear VR

Learning AR-VR is exciting, especially when you can interact with cutting-edge devices like HTC Vive, Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, and Samsung Gear VR.

Theory: What Are These Devices Used For?

AR-VR devices like HTC Vive and Google Cardboard bring virtual worlds to life. They let you experience environments that aren’t physically there by immersing you in 3D visuals. Here’s a quick overview of each device:

HTC Vive: A high-end VR headset used for advanced gaming and interactive simulations. It requires a powerful PC to run.
Google Cardboard: An affordable VR viewer that uses your smartphone for virtual experiences.
Google Daydream: A more advanced version of Cardboard, offering better visuals and controls.
Samsung Gear VR: A mid-range VR headset designed for Samsung smartphones, giving a premium VR experience without needing a PC.

Each device has unique strengths, but they all aim to make learning and exploring in VR both fun and interactive.

Requirements for the Practical

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

Hardware
- HTC Vive headset and controllers (for high-end VR projects).
- Google Cardboard or Daydream viewer and a compatible smartphone.
- Samsung Gear VR and a compatible Samsung phone.
- A PC with decent specs (for HTC Vive).
Software
- Unity (version 2021 or above).
- Visual Studio (installed with Game Development with Unity workload).
- AR-VR SDKs for the respective devices:
  - HTC Vive: SteamVR plugin.
  - Google Cardboard and Daydream: Google VR SDK.
  - Samsung Gear VR: Oculus SDK.
Basic Knowledge
- Familiarity with Unity and C# coding basics.

Device Explanation

HTC Vive

HTC Vive uses room-scale tracking to create a fully immersive VR environment. The headset has two base stations that track your movement, and the controllers allow interaction with virtual objects. It’s ideal for interactive games and simulations.

Google Cardboard

Google Cardboard is a simple VR headset made from cardboard. You place your smartphone in it, and its lenses give you a 3D view. It’s affordable and great for beginners trying VR for the first time.

Google Daydream

Daydream is an upgraded version of Cardboard, made with better materials and providing a more comfortable experience. It comes with a controller for interacting with VR apps.

Samsung Gear VR

Gear VR is designed for Samsung smartphones and offers better visuals and controls than Cardboard. It’s powered by Oculus technology and includes an intuitive touchpad for navigation.

To perform installation of Unity 2025

Unity Project Setup

We’ll create a simple VR scene that works across these devices. Follow these steps to set up your project:

Step 1: Create a New Unity Project

Open Unity and create a new 3D project.
Name your project, e.g., “AR-VR Practicals.”

Step 2: Import SDKs

For HTC Vive: Import the SteamVR plugin from the Unity Asset Store.
For Google Cardboard and Daydream: Import the Google VR SDK.
For Samsung Gear VR: Import the Oculus SDK.

Step 3: Set Up the XR Settings

Go to Edit > Project Settings > XR Plug-in Management.
Enable the XR plugins for the respective devices. For example:
- HTC Vive: Enable OpenVR.
- Google Cardboard and Daydream: Enable Google VR.
- Samsung Gear VR: Enable Oculus.

Step 4: Add a VR Camera

Delete the default Main Camera.
For HTC Vive, add the [CameraRig] prefab from SteamVR.
For Google Cardboard and Daydream, add the GvrViewerMain prefab.
For Samsung Gear VR, use the OVRCameraRig prefab.

Code Example

Here’s a simple script to make an object interactive in VR. For example, we’ll create a cube that changes color when clicked.

Script: ChangeCubeColor.cs

using UnityEngine;

public class ChangeCubeColor : MonoBehaviour
{
    private Renderer cubeRenderer;

    void Start()
    {
        cubeRenderer = GetComponent<Renderer>();
    }

    void OnMouseDown()
    {
        // Change the cube's color to a random color
        cubeRenderer.material.color = new Color(
            Random.value, Random.value, Random.value
        );
    }
}

Steps to Add and Test the Script

Add a Cube
- In Unity, go to GameObject > 3D Object > Cube to add a cube to your scene.
Attach the Script
- Create a new C# script in Unity (name it “ChangeCubeColor”).
- Copy and paste the code above into the script.
- Drag and drop the script onto the cube in your scene.
Run and Test
- For HTC Vive, run the scene with the SteamVR headset connected. Use the controller to click the cube.
- For Google Cardboard, build and run the app on your phone. Look at the cube and tap your phone screen to interact.
- For Samsung Gear VR, build the app and use the touchpad to interact.

Coding Steps Recap

Set Up the Unity Scene: Import the required SDKs and add a camera rig.
Add an Interactive Object: Create a cube or any object.
Write and Attach the Script: Use the provided script to make the object interactive.
Test on Devices: Run the app on the desired device (HTC Vive, Google Cardboard, Daydream, or Gear VR).

Conclusion

AR-VR devices like HTC Vive, Google Cardboard, Daydream, and Samsung Gear VR open up endless possibilities for learning and creativity. By using Unity and Visual Studio, you can build interactive apps and games for these devices. This practical demonstration covered theory, setup, coding, and testing in simple steps.

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Demonstration of HTC Vive, Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, and Samsung Gear VR