[From psfk, where the story includes more images]

Virtual Reality Art Show Takes Viewers Into A Seedy Underworld

The Nail Polish Inferno uses the Oculus Rift to transport people to a hallucinatory alternate universe.

Laura Chase on September 13, 2013

Step inside a virtual reality art show without moving a finger. ‘The Nail Polish Inferno’ is a digital art installation that immerses people in a hallucinatory 3-D ecosystem, that resembles a strip club full of mutant fantastic creatures such as provocative galactic purple pole dancers, sharks swinging on the ceiling, a giant hand that moves like an octopus, a grotesque man in underwear and other disturbing imagery.… read more. “Virtual reality art show takes viewers into a seedy underworld”

[From Develop, where the story includes several more images]

Crossing the UI Rift with Oculus

Virtual reality opens the doors to a new era for user interface design. Oculus VR speaks to Develop about its opportunities

by Will Freeman
Wednesday, 11th September 2013

[This feature was published in the September 2013 edition of Develop magazine, which is available through your browser and on iPad.]

Virtual reality doesn’t present user interface design with its first opportunity for transformation.

The dawn of 3D long ago afforded games makers the prospect of moving beyond flat heads-up-displays and conventional menus. And when mobile gaming finally realised its potential with the arrival of smartphones, those charged with implementing UI had a chance to establish the new standards of the virtual gamepad.

Neither presented an easy transition, and for many releases orthodox menu design remained the best option.… read more. “Rift and other VR opens the doors to a new era for user interface design”

[A news release from Iowa State University; see also “Professors use virtual reality to train firefighters” in the Iowa State Daily]

[Image: Nir Keren, left, and Warren Franke, center, have conducted research on firefighter stress levels using virtual reality simulations. Photo by Robert Elbert.]

Experienced firefighters are more analytical under stress than novices, according to ISU study

Posted Jul 31, 2013

AMES, Iowa – Experienced firefighters take longer to make decisions under stress than novice firefighters, according to research conducted at Iowa State University. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

After conducting dozens of virtual reality trials in which real firefighters with varying levels of experience responded to fire simulations, experts at Iowa State said this week that seasoned firefighters took a more analytical approach than their less experienced colleagues when making decisions.… read more. “Iowa State researchers use 6-sided CAVE to study and train firefighters”

[From Gizmag, where the story includes many more images and a video]

Intelligent Headset aims to immerse users in augmented reality of sound and space

By Heidi Hoopes
September 12, 2013

Running down an alley you make out the low growls of a zombie approaching distinctly above you and to the right. Touring a famous city you get lost, happen upon a fascinating art exhibit, and touch your headphones to find out where you are and what you see. Intelligent Headset hopes to create these augmented reality scenarios with its GPS-enabled 3D audio headset and a complementary suite of smartphone apps that entertain, educate, and always know where you’re at.… read more. “Intelligent Headset aims to immerse users in augmented reality of sound and space”

[From Joystiq, where the story includes additional images]

How to make players sick in your virtual reality game

by Richard Mitchell on Aug 30th 2013

There is a great, undiscovered potential in virtual reality development. Sure, you can create lifelike virtual worlds, but you can also make players sick. Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey and VP of product Nate Mitchell hosted a panel at GDC Europe last week, instructing developers on how to avoid the VR development pitfalls that make players uncomfortable. It was a lovely service for VR developers, but we saw a much greater opportunity. Inadvertently, the panel explained how to make players as queasy and uncomfortable as possible.

And so, we now present the VR developer’s guide to manipulating your players right down to the vestibular level. Just follow these tips and your players will be tossing their cookies in minutes.… read more. “How to make players sick in your virtual reality game”