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Table of Contents
HTC Vive "Hello World" Tutorial
Author: Keitaro Nishimura Email: katnimura@gmail.com
Date: 01/04/17
Keywords: Virtual Reality, HTC Vive, Unity, User Interface (UI)
This tutorial will guide the reader through the steps needed to create a unity project where they can pick up and throw, drop, and push a sphere around using the HTC Vive controllers, and how to set up a simple menu button that the reader can interact with using a laser point coming from the controller.
The steps for interacting with the sphere were adapted from the Vive Developer Mini Course and the laser pointer with the interactive button menu was done thanks to Brandon Hjelstrom.
Motivation and Audience
This tutorial is aimed at students who are interested in utilizing VR elements into their research or future projects. The readers of this tutorial will be expected to have had experience or interest in:
- Virtual Reality
- Coding
- Gaming
However, this tutorial is made with beginners in mind. Thus, those inexperienced in any of these aspects are welcome to follow as well.
The rest of the tutorial will follow this order:
- Bill of Materials
- Initial Setup
- Playing with a Sphere example
- Using laser pointer and UI button.
- Final Words
Bill of Mateirals
As stated in the title this tutorial will utilize the HTC Vive. Thus it is important to use a computer with the appropriate hardware specifications to power it. The minimum specs as of 01/04/17 are:
-Processor: Intel Core i5-4590 or AMD FX 8350 or better.
-Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 480 or better.
-Memory: 4 GB or more
-Video Output: 1 x HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 or newer.
-USB: 1 x USB 2.0 or newer.
-Operating System: Windows 7 SP1 or later.
For the most recent specs please visit the Vive website.
The computer used for this tutorial was a Alienware 17 R2 and was a little underpowered.
Initial Setup
For the initial setup, the reader will need to clear a relatively square space. Although there are no minimum space requirements it is recommended that the reader makes enough space to be able to take more than a couple steps in every direction. The space used for this tutorial is 2.5m x 3.5m (or~8.2ft x 11.5ft) and felt a little small.