Web VR: Virtual Reality in your Browser

WebVR is an open specification that allows you to use VR in your browser. Its goal is to make it easier for every user to have a quality virtual reality experience, regardless of their device.

What kind of helmet do I need to use WebVR?

The easiest way to start using WebVR is with Google Cardboard (since these glasses are extremely inexpensive). You can also use Daydream, Oculus, or HTC Vive. In the first case, you just need to download Chrome for Android.

Web VR for Mozilla Firefox

In order to start using Web VR, you need to download the Mozilla browser version 55 or higher. You do not need to download any Web VR Player! Then you should do the following steps:

• Start the Mozilla Firefox browser on your PC.
• Next, make sure that the Oculus device you are using allows you to use unknown sources.
• If you have a laptop or desktop with NVIDIA chipsets, you should use discrete GPUs. There are several ways to do this, such as through the NVIDIA Control Panel. To do this, go through the following path: load 3D settings> manage 3D settings> open the “configure programs” tab and select the appropriate Web VR browser. It will be used as a program for settings. As a priority, you should select “NVIDIA high performance processor”.
• It is now worth reloading the browser.
• After going to the site, you can try to use some WEB VR applications.

As for Web VR for Chrome browser, the developer of this technology said that new options are being developed to extend the functionality of Web VR. For now, the mobile version of the browser can be used for Web VR.

Already in the first half of 2016, full support for the specification was made, implemented in Mozilla browser builds. To activate the preliminary capabilities of the technology, people used the Mozilla Web VR Plus extension.

Conclusion

In 2016, Samsung already managed to introduce a similar technology with its Samsung Internet browser, but it did not gain much popularity. In the future, Google will work on expanding supported devices, such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.