Multi-room setup and more uncovered in Quest v50 update
The next Quest 2 and Quest Pro system updates could save guardian boundaries for multiple rooms by name and speed setup with more objects.
Early reports are circulating about the Quest v50 system update. The latest news is about faster and easier room setup, along with support for saving more than one guardian for future use.
This is particularly important for standalone headsets like the Quest 2 and Quest Pro that don't require tethers or base stations. A portable headset's freedom is hindered by a need to create a new guardian boundary anytime you move to another room.
The news comes from a tweet shared by NyaVR. Digging into the code of the v50 Public Test Channel (PTC) update, there could be four save slots named Bedroom, Office, Living Room, and Other.
Multi-Room support is dropping. You can have more than one room and name them accordingly, with Bedroom, Living Room, and Office being predefined options. pic.twitter.com/X9DPiLHCqg
— NyaVR (@nya_vr_) February 14, 2023
Apparently, only one room of each type is allowed. If you need to set up guardians in two bedrooms, one could be labeled Other. The names are simply labels, so you could also use Office to create a boundary in a third bedroom.
Guardian corrections and easy setup
Perhaps even more interesting were animations embedded in the v50 PTC code showing that it might be possible to correct misalignments by simply dragging the entire room guardian to the side to make virtual objects match your real-world surroundings.
In the future, VR headsets might be able to detect their surroundings and build a safety map automatically. At the moment, that isn't possible. The HTC Vive XR Elite, for example, contains a depth sensor that might allow this feature. An automatic boundary capability has yet to be demonstrated by HTC, however.
Sony's new Playstation VR 2 system could have room scanning capability, making it one of the first VR headsets to gain this advantage.
More virtual objects to choose from
NyaVR also found more objects in the Quest v50 PTC room setup, including Couch, Desk, Bed, Screen, Other, Door, Window, Lamp, Plant, and Shelf. Object outlines vary according to the object being drawn, and more options should simplify the process and allow marking more objects in each room.
When only one room was saved, it wasn't worth the effort of outlining objects if you moved to another room frequently.
The benefit of marking objects is that they can appear within your virtual environment, making it possible to walk around a plant in your Quest home, sit on a couch and work on a desk that appears in VR and aligns with the actual objects in your room.
Punching or kicking your TV or other objects (and people) in your room is a known problem, and enthusiastic Quest 2 gamers might even be increasing insurance claims.
More tracked keyboard support
The Quest supports what is known as tracked keyboards that appear in your virtual room and show keys that match the placement of your actual keyboard. Several Logitech, Apple, Microsoft, and Dell keyboards are currently supported, along with one HP model, a total of 35 remote keyboards.
Meta Quest tracked keyboard example | Image: Meta
NyaVR shared a screenshot of code that suggests the Surface Pro 5, 6, and 7 will be gaining support, along with a few more Logitech keyboards.
We have previously detailed how Direct Touch support could come with the Quest v50 update, allowing you to reach out with a finger to tap VR controls and buttons.
The latest news makes the next version of the Meta Quest system software even more interesting.
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