Introducing a Bluetooth syncing solution for multiple Gear VR headsets

With Samsung’s Gear VR venturing out into the mainstream, developers across the world are beginning to experiment with what the medium can do. As more and more enthusiasts jump into virtual reality systems, ideas around socially integrated experiences are on the rise.

Our clients often ask us, “How can I provide a synchronized viewing experience of the same piece of content across several HMDs?”

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“How can I watch virtual reality content, with others, in a social setting?”

Aaron Thomen, Lead Engineer at Two Bit Circus VR, explains one route that is available today for initiating a synchronized viewing experience:

We created a Bluetooth triggering system that starts a VR demo on multiple GearVR headsets. This allows for a limitless number of users to simultaneously view a VR experience and afterwards, share their thoughts and feelings. This breaks down some of the isolating aspects of VR, and also makes it easier to initiate a demo, especially for those who have never used a GearVR. The triggering system fits into a small portable case. Once the phones are paired, buttons are used to start, stop, or reset the experience.

Currently, we are using a 360 degree video player that is responding to Bluetooth signals. We only need to restart, stop, and pause for our current 360 video demos. However, our Bluetooth triggering system has the capability of triggering additional events; in the Android operating system or in programs like Unreal, Unity, etc. The system has limitless scalablility because of this.

This infrastructure deploys easily for demonstrations, meetings, activations, installations and conferences. For instance, an early version of the Bluetooth triggering solution was previously integrated into a VR experience for the XLIX Super Bowl in collaboration with Wasserman Experience, Verizon and the NFL. The syncing feature was added later during a recent marketing effort for Acura earlier this year.

It is fun and informative to watch several people view a 360 degree experience together. By watching users synchronistically move and react, content creators are provided with useful analytics. For the most part, individuals tend to gaze in the same directions, but as audiences become more comfortable in 360 degree environments, the individual instincts and interests of the users often lead people in different directions.

The beauty of the syncing system is that it drives the viewing experience in a social way. Instead of waiting in line and getting the reactions of each person one at a time, a group of people trying the demo can talk about their experience all together when finished. This increases throughput, as more people can try it out; in addition to amplifying the social aspect of the demos.

Two Bit Circus publicly showed the Bluetooth syncing solution at two events recently: first at USC and then at the LA Convention Center for the 2015 VRLA Summer Expo. In between those events, the leading virtual reality publication, Road to VR, covered our work in a well-thought out article. The post quickly spread online, driving additional interest for the syncing devices.

From there, we upgraded the system to run on a higher wireless frequency, allowing for larger files to be streamed even faster with less errors. We’ll post more information on that upgrade later.

In the meantime, to learn more about other ways to activate your audiences with Two Bit Circus VR, please email Nancy Bennett, Chief Content Officer, at: vr@twobitcircus.com

Additional Links about Two Bit Circus’s VR work:

Virtual reality offers NBA and NFL fans a more immersive experience — an interview with Nancy Bennett of Two Bit Circus:

http://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2015/may/19/virtual-reality-nba-nfl-nancy-bennett

Verizon Integrates NFL Virtual Reality Into Retail Store:

http://vrscout.com/news/verizon-nfl-virtual-reality-retail-store/

How the NBA became the first major sport to embrace VR:

Two Bit Circus VR is part of Two Bit Circus, llc: an experiential entertainment company located in downtown Los Angeles. Clients have included the NFL, NBA, IndyCar, Samsung, Verizon, and the United States Olympic Committee. To learn more about Two Bit Circus’ pioneering work in VR, and other immersive social experiences, please visit our website: http://www.twobitcircus.com/vr/