Virtual Desktop on Oculus Rift: A Review

Context

VR technology has been available for several years at this point. From lightweight smartphone-based solutions like Google's Cardboard to desktop-integrated solutions like HTC's Vice or the Oculus Rift, there are many points of entry for perusing VR content. Much of the content has focused on games, media, or digital art. While those uses are entertaining, they are often not inherently productive.

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Virtual Desktop is an application available through Steam and the Oculus store. It brings your desktop to a virtual environment, where it is rendered as a stand-alone screen of nearly any size. One of the common complaints about VR, is that there is not enough content. Virtual Desktop addresses that issue by allowing you to run any application you can otherwise run on your computer, in VR.

But, why?

Virtual Desktop is interesting because it allows you to selectively focus and magnify your activities. With virtual screens larger than your field of vision, you have the opportunity to fill your view with single focused intent. The Oculus Rift headset has built-in headphones which, when paired with audio input, allow you to further separate yourself from your physical space and immerse yourself in your chosen digital space. With multiple virtual monitors, you can relegate different tasks to different spaces that become available with the turn of a head.

So, you're too good for switching Spaces/Desktops now?

In reviewing the functionality of Virtual Desktop, the comparison to multiple workspaces was inevitable. On MacOS, Linux, and Windows, users have to ability to create separate workspaces (called Spaces, or Desktops, or Workspaces) for whatever workflow advantages might be had from such a delineation. The primary advantage of Virtual Desktop is that switching between desktops is as smooth as turning your head. Even with a trackpad or mouse configured to switch between Spaces with a gesture, the hard break between screens can be jarring. Something about shifting focus naturally through looking elsewhere reduces that disruption and makes fast-switching better.

Caveat Emptor

If you are motivated to explore virtual possibilities, there are a few things to bear in mind. Firstly, while VR technology has come a long way, it is still an imperfect tech. Currently, text rendering on the Oculus Rift is crude at best. On a white background, text tends to display a yellow shadow or echo. On a related note, VR headsets operate with the expectation that you will move your head to look around. This means that looking with your periphery generally yields low-quality visuals. Text input also suffers in VR. While Virtual Desktop includes an interface to allow input from controllers, it is time-consuming to enter large blocks of text. Even for users adept at touch typing, having a headset on makes it difficult to verify that your hands are properly aligned with your keyboard. Putting a headset on in a work environment can present other unexpected non-technical issues. A user will find themselves generally less aware of the physical world around them and, more importantly at times, the other people in it. Bystanders often find themselves having to resist the urge to take advantage of a VR user's lack of awareness. And finally, the more immersed you are in virtual space, the more jarring it is to finally decouple and enter the physical world.

The Future is Now

If you're someone who is consistently looking for ways to enhance your focus, give Virtual Desktop a try. New hardware is being developed constantly to address the issues identified above. Also, there is nothing quite like writing a blog post on a ten foot screen.