VR Keyboard Mode - enhancement

[FatzDomingo]

Just got my shiny new RIFT
Now giving some thought to enhancing the user experience using VR and VA

I would love to be still able to use my keyboard at times (great for navigation until FD manages to get it working as well by HOTAS/KeyPress) I'm not as adept as most of you, and arthritis is a !

So consider the following:-
The command "External Keyboard ON" overlays a small window along the bottom of the VR view, plonked where the controls/pilots knees are/ This is a camera view of your own desk limited or narrowed to keyboard, mouse, HOTAS - a kind of wide narrow window. This lets you utilise your keyboard and mouse much as you would if playing WITHOUT VR The following command "External Keyboard OFF" closes the window and its as if it was never there

You can only do this if you've installed a small USB camera pointed in the right direction, unless OCULOUS install a small front facing camera to enable users to avoid taking the headset off to do such things.

Just a thought!

 

[tinzi]

I experience the same problem when playing in VR as Cmdr FatzDomingo. I have noticed that a few ships actually have a onboard keyboard that is situated on the left side of the pilots seat. I suggest that when opening the communications panel this keyboard becomes accessible to the pilot and that the pilot could use his mouse to type messages. An alternative would be that the communications panel is extended with a mini keyboard below the entry field which the pilot can use with his mouse by clicking on the required letter keys. Not being able to see my keyboard or not having quick and easy access to a digital keyboard reduces the awesome experience of playing this magnificent game in VR. I find his solution also a viable one, but suspect that placing a camera behind you or above the RL keyboard might pose some problems.

 

[TieKnee]

I would love the VR keyboard... super idea ....

 

[FatzDomingo]

Discovered OVRDrop which works with STEAM VR apparently lets you insert any window in VR (Elite a guy is using it to watch telly on long journeys as an embedded little screen on his HUD) - will check it out, it shows promise.

 

[CMDR Valleys]

Two works good I’ve installed it and it works great. It should be easy to get a cheap web cam to show ur keyboard. Let me know how you get on would be a life saver for those times when ur struggling to find the keyboard.

 

[Mxpower76]

Discovered OVRDrop which works with STEAM VR apparently lets you insert any window in VR (Elite a guy is using it to watch telly on long journeys as an embedded little screen on his HUD) - will check it out, it shows promise.

Two works good I’ve installed it and it works great. It should be easy to get a cheap web cam to show ur keyboard. Let me know how you get on would be a life saver for those times when ur struggling to find the keyboard.

This a good idea. The Oculus home beta will let you pin any desktop window into the game. I'll sometimes pin you tube or my video player in there. I'm sure you can do the same with a web cam screen. You need to select the beta from your Oculus app. I need to dig out the old web cam and try it out.

 

[Gromit_]

Def a good idea, I have HTC vive, I've learned to touch type so I can chat in game. Also left handed, bought a HOTAS and took 2 weeks to learn how to fly right handed.

 

[CMDR Valleys]

I’d never considered that! Can u Chang the direction of the throttle??

Well done for learning though, surprised they dont sell a lift handed version.

 

[mossfoot]

I wonder - could you set up a virtual keyboard that tracks with a real keyboard? Set up a static-type image for the headset to recognize so the positioning is always correct, then resize so it matches your keyboard size/layout?

I wonder - could you set up a virtual keyboard that tracks with a real keyboard? Set up a static-type image for the headset to recognize so the positioning is always correct, then resize so it matches your keyboard size/layout?

 

[Gromit_]

I’d never considered that! Can u Chang the direction of the throttle??

Well done for learning though, surprised they dont sell a lift handed version.

They don't make for south paws, I just thought tho that a righty, would have to learn how to use the throttle with their left hand, so I should be able to learn joystick with left.