Thinking of getting OR - How will I be able to see/use keyboard?

DR Smith

D
Hi VR Noob here. After reading all the great reviews I'm thinking of getting an Oculus Rift for ED...but I can't help wonder how I'm going to manage all those controls, and locate my mouse without knocking over my beer. How I would be able to see the keyboard with my headset on? Is there a camera in the headset (if so, wouldn't this spoil the immersion?)
Or would I have to map every key to a joystick button and keep my hands on the joystick so I don't lose it? Are your fingers mapped so that you can 'touch-screen' the menus?
When all you experts have finished laughing, please enlighten me.:)
 

WindWpn

WindWpn
Yea, one thing now.... when its a VR night, I leave the beer can in the kitchen and have no open liquid near my place space. Perhaps, someone needs to design an adult VR no-spillable sippy cup with built in puck sensors!
 
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Worminator

W
WindWpn said:
Yea, one thing now.... when its a VR night, I leave the beer can in the kitchen and have no open liquid near my place space. Perhaps, someone needs to design an adult VR no-spillable sippy cup with built in puck sensors!
Click to expand...
Haha yeah I was thinking of a sensor or even a beer koozie with a sensor built in :).

Voice Attack
For myself I took a gamble with the X-56 Hotas despite the quality issues some people have seen. It has more than enough buttons to bind everything and the two mini analog sticks are great for running through the galaxy map etc. I built a Hotas chair and cut a hole on the table next to my throttle and put in an extra wide cup holder for my beer. For the rare occasions I need to type I bought a cheap hand held wireless keyboard.

Also if you drink cans you will probably have to switch to bottles. The Rift gets in the way of cans.
 

Khaldur

K
Mapping as much as you can to a HOTAS (combined joystick and throttle, which I strongly recommend) definitely helps. Voice Attack let's you run commands by voice which helps avoiding the keyboard, too (the Rift has a build-in mic).

The only time a keyboard can't be avoided is when you have to input text, e.g. for searching systems in the Galaxy map or for text chat.
The Rift has a small gap around your nose that I use to find my keyboard in those cases. Though how big that gap is will depend on the form of your nose.

Having beverages on the same table as your keybord or other computer peripherals is always a risk, even without VR. Just don't do that. Or use something like a bike water bottle that won't spill when knocked over.
Btw. I've learned that alcohol greatly enhances the risk of getting VR sickness so beer and VR is a combination I won't recommend.
 

Brandon31

B
Khaldur said:
Mapping as much as you can to a HOTAS (combined joystick and throttle, which I strongly recommend) definitely helps. Voice Attack let's you run commands by voice which helps avoiding the keyboard, too (the Rift has a build-in mic).

The only time a keyboard can't be avoided is when you have to input text, e.g. for searching systems in the Galaxy map or for text chat.
The Rift has a small gap around your nose that I use to find my keyboard in those cases. Though how big that gap is will depend on the form of your nose.

Having beverages on the same table as your keybord or other computer peripherals is always a risk, even without VR. Just don't do that. Or use something like a bike water bottle that won't spill when knocked over.
Btw. I've learned that alcohol greatly enhances the risk of getting VR sickness so beer and VR is a combination I won't recommend.
Click to expand...

if you setup voice attack correctly you can get it to type anything you want! I have.
 

Orvidius

Orvidius
I have everything I need mapped to the HOTAS, and only use the keys for typing in text chat, or for star searches. The typing in VR takes some getting used to, since you can't see the keyboard.

We all learn to use the nose gap to quickly peek at things though. For me, the gap was pretty small, so I usually had to push up on the HMD to see through it, but I think the HMD sits closer to my face than for many other people. I got a set of the velour pads (and adapter) from VR Cover, and the gap is larger now.

I have my HOTAS mounted on a set of quick-release table mounts from MonsterTech, which leaves the keyboard and mouse to sit comfortably on the desk. So I can reach up and still use the mouse when I want to. I still find the mouse faster for certain things, like station services.

And lastly, the coaster for my drink sits on one of those little two-drawer metal filing cabinets, next to me. I've gotten used to feeling for where the coaster is, then pick up the drink. ;) :D
 

Brandon31

B
Voice attack is less intrusive than trying to look out of the HMD. And can fulfill other functions which mean you are required to only map vital keys (combat) to your HOTAS/Joystick/Gamepad. For instance - on my larger ships VA is set up so that I just say "docking request", I can then sit back and let VA and the docking computer do the rest whilst I plan my next trip. Its cheap too.
 

ziddan

Z
Ive got my keyboard in between the hotas parts and type by feel, ive got a couple of dots of bluetac on some keys to help me orient myself since its a laptop sized keyboard and while all the letters are in the right place i need some help with other keys.

As for drinks i just put them out in front of my mouse pad and reach carefully when i want a sip.

I just sit down in the Command Chair (passenger seat that i plucked from my friends golf mk3 before it went to the junkyard) and pull the hotas towards me until its positioned correctly, Its a pretty ghetto setup but the feel is great when the headset it on.

Im using a Vive so there is a passthrough camera but i dont use it.

For anyone using a hotas, if its not one with a totally obscene amount of buttons, i highly recommend using at least one button as a "shift".

Im using the pinky button as a shift so i can use the same button for at least two functions.

With my current setup i only use the keyboard for actually typing and the topmost right button is my recenter hmd button.

(the button for heatsink doesnt show up right since i have it bound to C through the joystick config utility but its the lower leftmost thumb button on the throttle and shifted it toggles silent running, the error for YAW is because i have it set up as buttons using the stick twist, full left and right, i use the pedals for analog yaw and the toe brakes for forward and backwards thrust by having them combined into a single axis using whatever the program was called, it doesnt show up in the reference.)


http://imgur.com/a/cavHt
https://www.mcdee.net/elite/binds/sxnkpk
 
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Hammre

Hammre
As others have said Voice Attack is great, even for non-vr use. I still like to use the keyboard for the galaxy map and for that I just look through the nose gap.
 

[VR] Frank_G

[VR] Frank_G
For text input and mouse control, i have a small USB keyboard with integrated touchpad. As i can touch-type, i have no problems with text chatting while in VR, but a keyboard is not really suitable for ship functions, as you can only identify the right keys, after positioning both hands on the keyboard.
You can get yourself a gaming board like the Logitech G13, use Thrustmaster Cougar MFDs for ship functions, or use Voice Attack. I use all 3 of the above, besides a Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS as main ship control. To start, a good HOTAS and Voice Attack can do all the tricks.
 

dogbite

dogbite
I remember when many were complaining about the nose gap letting too much light. Not an issue. Nose gap+backlit keyboard+VA and all good here.
 

Falkenherz

Falkenherz
Fast-reaction-functions are mapped to the Hotas buttons. Frequent routine commands are done via VoiceAttack. Text is done via keyboard, blindly if you can touch-type, a skill which also comes handy in RL. If you need to look up a website, with Vive you can activate VRdesktop by pressing the button below the touchpad of one of your Vive controllers, so there is no need to take the VR-mask off. The only problem is inconsistent mouse behaviour, but you can get used to it.
 

Joe Cool

Joe Cool
I usually plan my session in advance in flat play and set all my anticipated destination bookmarks to eliminate text input.
All critical buttons programmed to HOTAS. Mouse to the right of stick for easy access if needed (but rare).
Heavy glass bottomed tankard positioned between stick and throttle with a 4mm tube (left over from an irrigation system) pegged at one end to the tankard (so the tube end is coiled in the bottom) and the other to the neck of my t-shirt.

I do have Voice Attack but haven't needed to fire it up as yet.

Works a treat, my greatest threat is siphoning if I forget to keep my end of the tube above the tankard - a true wet pants moment and a terrible waste of good booze!
 
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