Who is Virtual Reality Good For?

Last year at the Capital Home Show we set up a Virtual Reality demonstration, allowing show goers to explore the inside of a computer generated building. The initial impression that we got was the typical stereotype: the younger crowd was excited to use the new technology, with the older generation being skeptical of its use. During the show we also asked volunteers to fill out a quick survey about the experience, and some of the results we got were surprising.

Despite the idea that the older crowd is not interested in technology, over 60% of the people that wanted to try out the headset were over forty. So what’s the real story behind the discrepancy of who seemed excited about Virtual Reality during the show and the numbers from our survey? One possibility is the challenge of setting up the headset and the software that it needs to run. Right now Virtual Reality headsets are mainly geared towards video games, and converting that system to display finished, the opinion of the older generation for the Virtual Reality experience seems to be quite positive.

Another question we asked was what devices people used. Most of the people that tried out our Virtual Reality experience had some sort of computer or tablet, and only a few people didn’t own a smartphone. With such an abundance of smartphones, the accessibility of Virtual Reality has never been higher. Companies like google are mass producing cheap ways to turn smartphones into miniature Virtual Reality headsets, putting the power of the virtual world into the hands of the average person, even if they aren’t as powerful as dedicated equipment. Now anyone with a smartphone and fifteen dollars can explore both real and conceptual buildings while comfortably sitting in their own home.

There are still some challenges in using Virtual Reality; it can be difficult to transfer models between software, high quality headsets can be expensive, and there are latency issues that give some people motion sickness. Even with these challenges more and more people are willing to try it out. The technology, both on the software and hardware sides, is only getting cheaper and more accessible as time goes on as well. Will Virtual Reality soon be the new standard for viewing? Probably not, but it certainly will be playing an increasing role in the future.

Octogenarian on Oculus - Virtual Reality for Architectural Design

For the past year we have been using the Oculus Rift for Virtual Reality architectural presentations. It's an amazing tool for visualizing architectural designs (check out a previous post here) and helps eliminate any questions a client might have if they aren't entirely comfortable reading traditional floor plans and sections. However, one problem we face when adopting new technologies such as Virtual Reality into the architecture profession is getting the people we work with to embrace them.

There is always a resistance to new technologies and change in general. A few weeks ago we exhibited at the Capital Home Show, and gave our (always) free demonstration of Virtual Reality and how we use it in architecture. The 18-34 crowd had a pretty high acceptance rate with it, but as the crowd got older, the number of people willing to even give it a try declined dramatically.

We were quite pleased then, and not ashamed of a little humble-brag, about how excited our firm's Octogenarian forebear was with the technology. An architect himself and a mentor to our Principal and many others, Joseph J. Mangan, was designing the Gas Pavillion at the New York Worlds Fair long before computers entered everyday life and the architectural workflow.

He was an early adopter of CAD in the 80's in his firm, and he has always been an incredibly forward thinking man, so there probably should not have been much surprise when he jumped into Virtual Reality like a fish into a pond. He put the headset on and almost instantly said "Wow, this is really good!"

He was very impressed with the quality of the 3D model, the computer-generated lighting and the total space-immersion the Oculus Rift provides. As an architect in his late 80's he could articulate quite specifically how superior this was as a visualization experience, compared with how architects have presented their designs over the last 60 years and beyond.

The beauty and true power of this exercise is that we set up the machine on his dining room table in New York, and he walked through a house we have not yet built in Washington DC.

Want to try it yourself? Contact us to set up an office visit!

Getting Started with Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) architectural walkthroughs using an Oculus Rift or other VR headset is a fantastic new way to experience an unbuilt space. If you haven’t seen it yourself it’s hard to describe, but the experience is incredibly immersive. We’ve been producing these VR programs for a while now, and clients generally have the same questions about the product. Here are the FAQs and some answers to get you started. Of course, feel free to contact us if you need more specifics on anything.

how would I use it?

So far we have used it for two main purposes: 1) As a sales/design tool to see a finished interior space before it exists and 2) to do Virtual framing walkthroughs and inspect structure, plumbing and HVAC clashes. Of course, the scope of work and end use is not limited to these functions. If you have an idea for a new use it can probably be done.

How much does the headset cost?

The consumer grade Oculus Rift headset has an anticipated release date of Q1 2016. The price has not been announced, but is estimated to be between $200 - $400. You could also buy the DK2, which is the version used by developers to create content for the Oculus Rift. The DK2 is available for $350 on the Oculus website.

There are also competing products at various levels of development from Samsung, Sony, HTC and Microsoft among others. They may come in at different price points and with different features, but we are most familiar with the Oculus Rift.

Do I need a special computer?

Maybe. The Oculus requires a good graphics card and a fast processor for optimal performance. The developer’s minimum specifications are an Intel i5-4590 processor, an Nvidia GTX970 graphics card (or equivalent AMD card) and 8GB of RAM. Computers that meet these specifications are priced between $1100 and $1500 on Newegg.com.

We have successfully run Oculus presentations on computers with lower-rated components than the developer’s specifications, so the computer you already have may work.

The experience is significantly better with more computing power, so if you’re seeing choppy images you may want to upgrade your computer.

Do I need any special software?

No. You will need to install drivers in order for the headset to function, but the walkthrough itself is a standalone executable file.

What software do you use?

Our office uses Revit exclusively for architectural design and construction documents, so many of our VR projects start with our own Revit models. From there we use a combination of 3DS Max and Unity to create the final VR file. 3DS Max is a professional modeling, rendering and animation program made by AutoDesk, the makers of Revit and AutoCAD. Unity is a 2D/3D development platform that has traditionally been used to create video games for PCs, iPhones and consoles such as XBOX and Playstation.

What kind of drawings do you need from us?

We can start with PDFs, DWGs or a napkin sketch of your project.

My architect already has a Revit/Sketchup/Vectorworks/Archicad/Other 3D model. Can you use that?

Maybe. The 3D geometry produced by most architecture software is not conducive to being used in a video game engine. When exporting to programs that are designed solely for 3d modeling the model from the architecture software often becomes excessively large and difficult to work with. It needs to be prepared and exported very meticulously so as to be usable in an efficient manner in 3DS Max and Unity. Depending on the quality (or lack thereof) of the provided 3D model, it may be faster and more efficient for us to create our own model from your 2D drawings.

How much does it cost?

Like everything else, it depends. The four primary factors that will affect the cost are the size of the project, the visual quality that is required, the files we are provided to begin working with and the deadline. You can email or call us at 301-589-7900 for a detailed quote or more information.

BIM/REVIT: See Your Future Home in 3D

At Mangan Group, we design all projects, from restaurants to small additions to whole house remodels in an advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) software called Revit. There are many benefits of using a BIM software instead of traditional 2D drafting software, but our clients are particularly fond of Revit’s 3D capabilities. We have the ability to instantly place a virtual camera at any point in the house and get immediate visual feedback about the space.

We can also instantly create 3D floor plans, which help architects and clients alike understand the size and dimensions of a space with far more awareness than a traditional 2D drawing.

During a recent conference call with a client, we were able to remotely share our screen and rotate their house in real time. This was incredibly valuable for the client, and ensured everyone was seeing and understanding the same thing.

Check out some of these images from the design phase of our Logan Circle project and see how they match up with the actual finished product!

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FLOOR PLAN SHOWING CAMERA BEING POSITIONED

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3D VIEW CREATED FROM FLOOR PLAN

THE FINISHED DESIGN

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FULL 3D VIEW WITH CUTAWAY VIEWS