A-Frame/WebVR

A-Frame/WebVR

by Kyle Cui

Description

WebVR is a JavaScript API for creating immersive 3D, virtual reality experiences in your browser. A-Frame uses the WebVR API to gain access to VR headset sensor data (position, orientation) to transform the camera and to render content directly to VR headsets. Note that WebVR, which provides data, should not be confused nor conflated with WebGL, which provides graphics and rendering.

Download

WebVR needs no download! Everything is based in browser with HTML and JS. For more information, go to https://aframe.io/docs/0.8.0/introduction/.

Tutorials

Tutorial Effectiveness

From student responses in the class, A-Frame was the most accessible VR software, as it easy to use for beginners, and could be accessed and run from any computer and any phone without any installation time because of its HTML and JS based nature.

Minimum/Recommended System Requirements

    • Any computer or mobile device with a modern browser!

Metrics

Accessibility: The estimated time for someone to create Hello World in VR

  • Beginner: No coding or graphics experience | 1.5 hours

  • Intermediate: Some coding or graphics experience | 0.5 hours

  • Advanced: Both coding and graphics experience | 0.25 hours

  • Expert: A lot of experience with computer graphics, specifically with this software | a few minutes

Power: The engine's power - i.e. how much one can do with this

  • Low: A-Frame is very accessible and can deploy applications quickly with a full fledged VR experience, but the convenience comes at the cost of power—beyond simple engines and demos, A-Frame lacks behind Unity and other development software in terms of things a developer can make.

Usage: Evaluation of software's use for the following purposes

  • Game Design - A-Frame can make simple games for Google Cardboard.

  • Education - It can be a good introductory framework for people just getting into VR, as its quick development cycle allows for easy deployment onto devices such as Google Cardboard; moreover, A-Frame works even without a headset on mobile and desktop browsers.

How to Develop

MinVR is written in Javascript, making it able to be developed with any web development software (or even just plain HTML and JS).