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[Eddie-Griffin]

https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/21/meta-quest-users-can-now-tap-and-swipe-in-vr-without-controllers/

Today, Meta announced new improvements to the Quest platform as part of the v50 OS update, including an experimental feature, “Direct Touch,” that lets users tap and swipe with their bare hands. The company also rolled out an in-game multitasking feature to Meta Quest 2 and upgraded the Meta Quest Touch Pro controllers.

While Meta already has hand tracking, which launched on the Quest platform in 2019, users will now be able to do more than just pinch the air in order to interact in VR. The Direct Touch setting allows users to tap on buttons, swipe through the game library and use their hands to type out messages on the virtual keyboard—all without the use of controllers.

Last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted an Instagram Reel that shows a demo of the new feature. From what we can see in the video, it feels similar to using the touchscreen on a smartphone–which will likely be appealing to many users.


Zuckerberg wrote in the Instagram caption that these new hand gestures are “much more natural.” The company added in today’s announcement that Direct Touch offers a “more intuitive and engaging way to interact with the system and 2D panels in general.”

The feature can be located within the Experimental Settings tab. It’s available on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro.

Meta Quest 2 users are also getting the in-game multitasking feature, which was previously only available on Meta Quest Pro. When playing a game, users simply select the Meta Quest button and launch 2D apps from their library, such as Instagram, the Meta Quest Browser and more.

Quest 2 and Pro users can now tap and swipe without controllers, called Direct Touch. Quest 2 also gets an update for in-game multitasking.

They are probably gearing up for the Quest 3 and want people to get acquainted with these features before transferring over the the better version in the upcoming handset imo. Otherwise it seems very late to add this stuff on the current hardware otherwise.

It also seems that Quest, and Pico are moving more towards controller-less motion-style controls, which is what Apple has been leaked to be using n their headset for awhile now. The Morning Consult data showed 54% of people leaning or interested in VR would be more interested in the market if you didn't need controllers, so I guess we will see a gradual move away from controllers.

Sony may even make it an option sometime this year on their PSVR 2 at this rate.

 

[Kuranghi]

Quickly nearing this majestic quality:

 

[FoxMcChief]

In-game multitasking? Meaning I can pause my game, open up my web browser, watch some VR porn, then jump back to my game, right where I left off?

 

[Punished Miku]

In-game multitasking? Meaning I can pause my game, open up my web browser, watch some VR porn, then jump back to my game, right where I left off?

Yep it can pause for up to 60 seconds. Plenty of time.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Yep it can pause for up to 60 seconds. Plenty of time.

My wife don’t call me the 15 second man for nothing!

Damn I’m good.

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Quest 3 is going to have better versions of all these features so it'll be easy to move people over.

Though the novelty Quest 2 had earlier is gone so who knows if Quest 3 will still have the same pull.

 

[Raonak]

Get ready for the small handful of kinect-tier waggle games that actually use the feature because it's fundamentally janky to use.

 

[FingerBang]

Say whatever about the Zuckerbot, but man they've been supporting the Quest 2 nonstop since launch and it keeps getting better

 

[ReBurn]

I guess I'll turn it back on and see what this is about

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

Say whatever about the Zuckerbot, but man they've been supporting the Quest 2 nonstop since launch and it keeps getting better

I mean he kind of has to given how much money he's spending on it, and losing, he has to try and reach breakeven or profit somewhere.

But yeah Quest 2 having long support is why sales got as high as it did and are still not declining too fast and retaining some users. Almost everyone else before abandoned their headset support outside minor things, if any, after 1-3 years depending on the company.