VR software - websites

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The following is the start of a list of available VR software sites

that provide 360 panoramic views and VR model viewing.

 

The industry is evolving and pricing is now becoming available.

Chieftalk viewers can list new sites, relative costs  in viewing Chief models,

and other helpful tips.

InsiteVR is a paid $ version
https://www.insitevr.com
 
GearVR 360 Images - Quick Start

irisVR is a paid $ version
https://www.irisvr.com

Kubity is a paid $ version

https://www.kubity.com/

Sketchfab - paid $ version for control of who views model
 - free version if "world" can view your 3D model.
https://sketchfab.com

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VR  software Kubity and Sketchfab - update on their use.

with web viewing on computer and VR viewing with a headset/cardboard viewer.

 

Web VR websites offer design benefits as easy web viewing of your 3d models early in the design & design development phase.

Web services as Sketchfab and Kubity are two that offer web services that allow easy viewing of

your model concepts and ideas.

 

Using web based 3d viewers gives simple and easy access to your design models for clients and prospects in the concept and design development phase.

This easy access via the web aids new clients or prospects to quickly understand your design intent from any web device at the office, home or in their local cafe.

.

These web viewers assist in improved presentation and marketing of your design service

on your website and in your follow-up of connections and leads.

 

Benefits of Sketchfab (or Kubity for VR viewing on web phones)

1. Prospects or clients can view model sections with ease anytime anywhere.

Available on any web device it allows impromptu and

spontaneous discussions and review of design ideas by interested parties.

 

2. VR viewing on web phones is best for small sections of your 3d model.

Even a house would be best "cut up" to show only the key areas as kitchen, bathroom and living areas

This makes it simpler for the viewer to navigate in VR is the model is small as illustrated by the attached example.

 

At present Kubity is the best as it allows "teleporting" or jumping from one spot to the next.

Basically, it is a small red dot that you point at your desired location.  Holding the dot steady in that location for

approximately 10 seconds triggers a switch that is indicated by a spiked white circle surrounding

the circumference until complete and then you view is "jumped or teleported" to your new location.

Generally, you will have to move your head about to regain eye level viewing after your "jump or teleport".

 

Kubity allows a free 20 minutes of viewing a download model, which allows the testing of the above 

VR teleporting.

 

VR viewing in Sketchfab does not at present (I assume they are working on it) allow a smooth "jump or teleport" 

To move around your model you have to physically reset your location by manually touching your phone.

With my headset viewer, this means taking the phone out of the cradle and tapping my next move, frustrating!

 

Sketchfab, however, offers a free plan that allows uploading of your model with the restriction that it can

be viewed by the "world" and limitations of only 5 annotations compared to 50 for the paid plan.

 

3. Pro accounts with Sketchfab and Kubity allow privacy protection of your models using a unique code.

 

 

Test Examples are:

 

Kubity model for VR viewing with headset or cardboard viewer

https://www.kubity.com/p/rhnyfS

 

 

 

Sketchfab simple example with annotations.

https://sketchfab.com/models/7dd005d09e6040e181ac2319b6dc4cfa

 

 

Red dot teleporting or jumping in Kubity VR cardboard or headset

 

[PSchuyler]

Assuming you're using an HTC Vive, there are some comparable, but cheaper room-scale viewers.  Room-scale for those who are not familiar...means you can walk around the virtual designs in 100% 1:1 scale.  Not 360 images, not animations, but actually walking through the physical spaces virtually.  In the thousands of years that humans have been building structures, this is the first time we have this capability.  Prior to this, representing a building concept was always about abstraction:  schematic or detailed drawings, physical models, floor plans, etc.  Now with roomscale VR you can walk through your project in true 1:1 scale. 

 

Symmetry

http://store.steampowered.com/app/585340/SYMMETRY_alpha/

Supports Sketchup's *.SKP format, which you can save to through the free version of Sketchup.

 

AM Model Viewer ($5)

http://store.steampowered.com/app/506750/AM_Model_Viewer/

Supports DAE format, which Chief Exports.

 

These are both very similar to InsiteVR and IrisVR.  Just import your file and walk around in 1:1 scale.  They're not quite as nice, but they're also essentially free and not tied to any subscriptions, etc.  Of course if you have the time and expertise, the Unity game engine is your most advanced choice (https://unity3d.com/).  Its used to author about 80% of the professional Vive and Rift VR apps, and imports many formats including DAE directly (just drag your DAE file AND its texture folder directly into Unity). There is also Unreal Engine, which is fabulous graphically but only supports OBJ or FBX formats.   Both of these major game engines are free for our typical use.  

 

Simlab Composer 8+ now supports room scale VR with the HTC Vive.  It's VR portion is based on Unreal Engine, and it imports Chief *.dae exports perfectly.  That's a very nice and easy VR viz solution ($200-400).

 

Then there are the pseudo-VR viewers, which produce very nice graphics using adapted game engines to accelerate visualizations.  They have not fully implemented real-time VR navigation...yet, but they are in various phases of doing that.  They all export fabulous animations and graphics at unparalleled high speed: Twinmotion 2018 (https://twinmotion.abvent.com/en/), Lumion (https://lumion3d.com/), and Bentley's LumenRT.  All of these are game engine implementations for easy and fast visualizations.  They are expensive, but very fast and easy to use.

 

NOTE TO CHIEF:  If Chief's DAE export capability would enable light export, which it currently does not do, this would be a godsend for Chief visualization!  If it did, you could just drop in your Chief files and do night visuals with any of these systems much faster than is currently possible within Chief.

  

 

 

 

 

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Thank you PSchuyler for posting

a very detailed overview of some cheaper alternatives.

I am sure as we move forward in this new medium we will get a better idea as to how to use it.

 

My first experience with 1:1 scale on a Vive was like WOW, THIS IS NEAT!

 

The software is continuing to be developed as the hardware improves in its capacity to handle the

computations required.  There are interesting years ahead as the software settles out and the front runners appear

 

Right now Sketchfab is making some interesting additions with "sound" and "annotations".

Those ChiefTalk user who are interested might want to drop over to the various talk groups

and see what is in the works.