In the world of Virtual Reality, FOV (field of view) is one of the most important specs of a high-end VR headset. Here we explain what FOV stands for and how it affects your experience in VR.

What is FOV in Virtual Reality?

FOV refers to the extent of the observable world at any given moment through a VR headset. It defines the visible area that a VR user can see while wearing the headset. A wider FOV creates a more immersive experience, making you feel like you’re truly inside the virtual environment.

The Importance of FOV in VR

1. Immersion Amplification

• – Enhanced Realism: A wider FOV mirrors the natural human field of vision, enhancing the feeling of presence within the virtual space.
• – Reduced Motion Sickness: With a broader FOV, users are less likely to experience discomfort or motion sickness often associated with narrower fields of view.

2. Impact on User Experience

• – Engagement: A higher FOV contributes significantly to user engagement, making experiences more captivating and enjoyable.
• – Comfort: Wider FOVs can alleviate the sense of being confined, offering a more comfortable and natural viewing experience.

Factors Affecting FOV

1. Hardware Limitations

• Optics and Display Technology: VR headset specifications heavily influence FOV. Advanced lenses and display setups contribute to expanding the field of view.

2. Software Optimization

• Rendering Techniques: Efficient rendering techniques and optimizations in VR applications can maximize FOV without compromising performance.
• Field of View Settings: Some VR applications offer adjustable FOV settings to cater to individual preferences and hardware capabilities.

Tips for Improving FOV Experience

1. Choose the Right Hardware

• Research VR Headsets: Look for headsets with wider FOV capabilities to ensure a more immersive experience.

2. Adjust Settings

• Optimize Settings: Explore and adjust FOV settings in VR applications to suit your comfort level and hardware capabilities.

3. Consider Upgrades

• Stay Updated: As VR technology evolves, newer headsets may offer enhanced FOV. Consider upgrading for a more immersive experience.

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How to measure FOV for your headset?

First, consult the Official Documentation: Often, VR headset manufacturers provide FOV specifications in their product manuals or on their official websites. This information offers an initial idea of the FOV capabilities of the headset.

Secondly, you can use FOV with software tools, such as:

• – What is my FOV?
• – RISA2000
• – SteamWorkshop

These tools often measure the rendered FOV (the maximum observable) as well as the FOV you can actually see.

Conclusion

Field of View (FOV) plays a pivotal role in defining the level of immersion and comfort in Virtual Reality experiences. As technology continues to evolve, advancements in both hardware and software are pushing the boundaries, promising even more immersive and realistic virtual worlds.

Explore the ever-expanding vistas of Virtual Reality with a wider FOV and unlock new dimensions of immersion and engagement like never before!

Ready to dive deeper into the immersive world of VR? Stay tuned for more insights and updates on the latest VR technologies and experiences!

FOV in Pimax headsets

Field of View (FOV) is a crucial aspect of any optical device, including Pimax headsets. While Pimax has advertised the maximum FOV of its headsets, there have been instances where users have experienced a discrepancy between the promoted and actual FOV. In this blog, we will explain why there can be a variance in FOV in Pimax headsets and what factors affect it.

FOV is divided into HFOV (horizontal), VFOV (vertical), and DFOV (diagonal). At Pimax, when we talk about FOV, we use DFOV as a measurement. So this is 200° for the Pimax 8KX and 140° with the Pimax Crystal (when using 35PPD lenses).

• – HFOV: Horizontal FOV
• – VFOV: Vertical FOV
• – DFOV: Diagonal FOV

 In terms of theoretical pure mathematics, it can be seen from the figure that HFOV is determined by Focal Length and sensor width (W), and VFOV is determined by Focal Length and sensor height (H). DFOV is jointly determined by Focal Length, W, H.

Why?

However, there are many factors that affect the FOV number, such as individual differences, external conditions, and design and manufacturing limitations. These affect not only in Pimax headsets, but all VR headsets. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors.

1: Personal Differences

First of all, there is no denying that FOV varies from person to person. There is a limit, based on what is rendered and optics. As for maximum FOV, the eyes need to be at an optimal distance from the lenses, which can be hard to achieve with many face shapes and head shapes. That’s why some individuals cannot get the number we promoted.

2: External Conditions

In addition, the FOV of the human eye is not fixed, but changes according to external conditions such as light intensity and the distance of objects. Therefore, some assumptions and trade-offs may need to be made when simulating the FOV of the human eye. The FOV of the actual experience depends on many factors such as the user’s interpupillary distance, the distance between the eyes and the lens, and the testing method. The test data of personal use of third-party tools is only recommended as a relative reference value. Pimax has tested over 100 individuals to measure the FOV of its headsets, and the promotion FOV numbers for the Pimax 8KX and Pimax Crystal are what the company obtained. However, users may experience slightly different FOV numbers based on individual differences and the actual application. In other words, it’s difficult to guarantee that every user can achieve the promoted FOV numbers due to several factors that affect the FOV experience.

3: Design & Manufacturing Limitations

During the design and manufacturing of Pimax headsets, there are different aspects of limiting factors that can affect the FOV, such as resolution, brightness, contrast, light transmittance, image artifacts, distortion, and uniformity. And other non-display issues such as: eye zone, size, weight, battery, cost, durability, etc of the headset. In addition, the improvement of the field of view will also put forward higher requirements on the computing power and power consumption of the equipment.

Conclusion

Overall, Pimax’s careful design offers a more efficient FOV for individual users without sacrificing pixels per degree or any distortion. While it’s challenging to accurately measure and describe FOV, Pimax’s testing and user feedback confirm that the FOV of the Pimax Crystal is larger than other popular headsets in the market.