18 days with the Rift

I haven't done any 'classical' vision therapy exercises since I got the rift.   This is because I think of using the Oculus Rift as vision therapy--just a lot more fun.  I've explained in previous entries why I think it works so I won't go into it too much.  Basically, I don't know, but it's hard to ignore the input of the suppressing eye when I'm in VR.  My stereo vision is improving every week.

I guess I've been thinking a bit about Benjamin's approach to vision therapy, which is sensory fusion--giving the eyes corresponding input, and using that in conjunction with eye movement exercises in order to get the brain to align the eyes.  The Oculus Rift is actually quite well suited for such an exercise, which I believe is what it does.  The visual information is planted right in your face, it integrates the vestibular system, and it provides moving input in full stereo.   I can't ignore the input.  Not only that but it's giving me the correct sterescopic input, so I'm pretty sure that it's training my brain to see in stereo via sensory fusion.

Every time I go into VR it seems more immersive, which is probably the result of my brain integrating both eyes more.  In Half-Life 2, for instance, there are load screens where the screen suddenly freezes.  It's a jarring experience, almost like getting kicked in the head.  The deeper you are in VR, and the more convinced the brain is that what it's seeing is real, the more jarring it is.

The Oculus Rift is really the ideal vision therapy device.  On top of all of all of the things it does, it's designed for games.  That was another thing that Ben and I talked about that I didn't mention in the previous entry--how boring vision therapy is--and how there is a need to make it more fun and interesting.  Well--Oculus Rift.  It's also much, much cheaper than classical vision therapy.  The DK2 is $350, and the games are dirt cheap.  Palmer Lucky, the founder of OculusVR, says they're going to sell the hardware at cost.  I anticipate the commercial version to cost around $300.  They plan on making no money with the hardware.  They just want to get VR onto as many heads as possible.  That's great news for people who want to rehabilitate their vision.

What else.  I had an email conversation with James Blaha.  The team that is developing Diplopia got their DK2s.  I explained to him that the alpha he gave me doesn't run with my DK2.  He explained that he expects to have a beta released soon which will allow for use with the DK2.  I am pumped.  Diplopia is one of the main reasons why I jumped for the DK2 and didn't simply wait for the commercial version of the Oculus Rift.  I want stereo vision now--so I can move on with my life.