How the screen door effect, the main problem with virtual reality headsets, works

Virtual reality is one of the most important technological phenomena of recent years. Meta, Mark Zuckerberg’s company that has focused much of its efforts on supporting concepts such as the metaverse, believe that both virtual and augmented reality will be part of the most important technological tools in recent years. But, unfortunately, there is a phenomenon that affects all virtual reality headsets that, regardless of their cost, they fail to solve: the screen door effect.

This phenomenon, alluded to in Digital Trends, is a fairly common malady in any virtual reality device. In fact, its rate of occurrence is so high that it affects both low-end headsets and premium options, which is why there is no solution for this bug. Thus, the screen door effect appears when it is possible to see gaps between pixels, as if looking through a hole in a mesh. However, although there is no magic formula to put an end to this annoying circumstance, several companies have tried different methods to mitigate its impact.

One example might be to opt for more compact pixels. With a screen less than 5 centimeters away from the eyes, increasing the amount of visible detail can help users not to notice these gaps between pixels. At the same time, different firms opt to improve the arrangement of the subpixels, which is why Sony opted for an OLED PenTile screen for its recent PSVR 2. And, above these two options, the bet on diffusers and coatings stands out, two elements that make the pixels larger. However, being the cheaper solution, it is possible that on more modest devices the screen may appear slightly blurry.

Be that as it may, the screen door effect is a very personal aspect, which is why its detection depends on the eyesight of each user. Thus, its appearance is similar to the dizziness caused by this technology: while some users can enjoy virtual reality for hours without worries, others suffer a series of dizziness that makes it impossible for them to continue with this practice. Therefore, although there is no perfect solution, there are sufficient approaches for each user to choose the equipment that best suits them.

Con un mando en las manos desde que tengo uso de razón. Crecí con una Super Nintendo y me enamoré de la industria con una PlayStation 2. Fan de los líos espacio-temporales, puede que Chrono Trigger y Regreso al futuro tengan la culpa.

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