WebVR, Explained in 60 Seconds
A super quick dive for tech geeks
WebVR is virtual reality but on the internet. Wait, I can explain!
If you enjoy learning about the latest technologies, you’re probably familiar with virtual reality (VR), in general. As opposed to augmented reality (AR), which is the real world mixed in with the virtual world, VR is straight-up virtual.
VR places a user inside of a simulated experience. Instead of merely viewing a screen, a user is immersed in an interactive 3D world. The nature of this medium opens up a lot of cool possibilities in how we play, learn, and more. I’ve discovered this through the many VR experiences I’ve created.
Traditionally, VR is developed using C# and Unity, and you’re required to wear a headset and use specific software. However, newer tools allow for web-based VR (WebVR). This means you’ll use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to make VR experiences instead. Many beginners are weirded out by this, but you get used to it quickly.
WebVR provides several benefits. One, no headset is needed! Just your phone, tablet, or laptop is enough. This surprises a lot of people, but it’s true. Two, since WebVR is hosted online, it works on most modern touchscreen devices that have an internet connection. Three, if you update code for a WebVR experience, it will update the experience instantly. Tweaks are easy.
There are definitely areas for improvement, though. Browser developers want to protect users as much as possible, but this can have side effects that make WebVR development more challenging. The technology itself is relatively new, so other issues include difficulty rendering imported 3D models, playing video, and more. Over time, there will be advancements in these areas.
So, what tools do you use to make WebVR? In terms of a framework, you can use one like A-Frame, which goes hand-in-hand with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. To host your creation, Glitch can get the job done. If you want to go a step further, you can use Google Analytics to track user behavior.
Well — my 60 seconds is up! I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you did, you’ll probably like this article too:
Until next time!
