Welcome to the BYU Mixed Reality (MR) Lab! Here we explore rapid design and prototyping processes in Augmented/Mixed/Virtual Reality (AR/MR/VR) mediums. We have a wide range of equipment to get you started on your own project. Don’t know where to start? Check out the past projects BYU students have created. Looking to get involved? Check out the BYU MR Club.
If you not currently enrolled in the MR Lab class, but have a project you’d like to use the equipment for, you must request access to the lab.
BYU MR LAB
ABOUT
LAB RULES
To keep the MR Lab as fresh, clean, and hip as possible, we ask that students abide by a few rules. This ensures that the equipment and environment are preserved for other students and their projects!
1. Clean up the headset after each use.
2. Plug in everything to charge.
3. Follow the honor code.
4. Visitors must be accompanied by approved students.
1. Clean up the headset after each use.
2. Plug in everything to charge.
3. Follow the honor code.
4. Visitors must be accompanied by approved students.
LAB MAP
EQUIPMENT
VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS
Destek V3
The Desktek VR headset is low-cost VR headset that uses your smartphone to project most VR and AR mobile apps.
Specs
Developer: Destek
Headset Type:
Resolution: Native to iPhone
Field of View: 103
Controls: None
Software Platform: Android, iOS
Documentation
1. Developing on Google
2. Quickstart for Google VR in Unity on iOS
3. Quickstart for Google VR in Unity on Android
4. How to make a VR app with zero experience
SEE MORE
Gear VR
The Gear VR is Samsung's mobile VR headset. It must use a phone with USB-C or micro-USB connection to function (no iPhones, sorry folks). It includes a wireless controller.
Specs
Developer: Samsung
Headset Type:
Resolution: Native to iPhone
Field of View:
Controls:
Software Platform: Android, Oculus
Documentation
1. Getting Started Guide for GearVR and Samsung
2. Quickstart Guide for GearVR and Unity
3. Oculus SDK getting started guide
SEE MORE
Google Cardboard
This is a very low cost headset, made from cardboard. The user must hold the headset to their face to use. This headset uses your mobile phone to project most VR mobile apps.
Specs
Developer: Google
Headset Type: Mobile
Resolution: Native to Mobile
Field of View: 90
Controls: None
Software Platform: Android, iOS
Documentation
1. Developing on Google
2. Quickstart for Google VR in Unity on iOS
3. Quickstart for Google VR in Unity on Android
4. How to make a VR app with zero experience
SEE MORE
Google Daydream
A step up from the Google Cardboard, the Daydream can play all Google Cardboard compatible apps, as well as apps specifically created for the Daydream. There is an adjustable strap to keep the headset secure on the user's head. The google daydream also includes a handheld remote control for more interactivity.
Specs
Developer: Google
Headset Type:
Resolution: Native to Phone
Field of View:
Controls:
Software Platform: Android, iOS
Documentation
1. Start Developing for Daydream
2. How to make a VR app with zero experience
3. Developing on Google
4. Quickstart for Google VR in Unity on Android
SEE MORE
Lenovo Mirage Solo
Yet another step up from the Google Daydream, the Mirage Solo allows users to use Daydream apps without having to use their smartphone. The Mirage Solo is an untethered headset that functions independently from outside sources, such as a phone, PC, or console. It can connect to wifi and hold up to 64 GB of memory. It can even use positional tracking, unlike the Oculus Go, so that users can move forwards and backwards in virtual space.
Specs
Developer: Lenovo
Headset Type: Standalone
Resolution: 1280 X 1440
Field of View: 110
Controls: Handheld remote
Software Platform: Google, Steam VR
Documentation
1. Developing on Google
2. Daydream Standalone
3. Start Developing for Daydream
SEE MORE
Oculus Go
Similar to the Mirage Solo, the Oculus Go is an untethered headset that functions independently from outside sources, such as a phone, PC, or console. It can connect to the wifi, and can store 64 GB of data. It is much more mobile than the Oculus Rift, but since it doesn't use positional tracking (the Oculus Rift does this with a motion camera), moving backwards and forwards in the virtual space is impossible.
Specs
Developer: Oculus
Headset Type:
Resolution: 1280 x 1440
Field of View:
Controls:
Software Platform: Oculus
Documentation
1. How to Build an App for the Oculus Go from Start to Finish
2. Unity Developer Guide
3. Oculus Development Center - Oculus Go
4. Everything You Need to Know to Develop for the Oculus Go
SEE MORE
Oculus Rift
The Oculus Rift is Oculus's highest-end VR headset. It must be plugged into a PC with a motion camera to function properly. It is one of the more popular gaming VR headsets on the market.
Specs
Developer: Oculus
Headset Type:
Resolution: 1080 x 1200
Field of View:
Controls:
Software Platform: Oculus, Steam VR
Documentation
1. Oculus Development Center - Oculus Rift
2. Oculus Rift Getting Started Guide
3. Unity Developer Guide
SEE MORE
PlayStation VR
PlayStation VR is Sony PlayStation's one and only VR headset. It is only compatible with the PlayStation Pro. It must use a motion camera to function. It is one of the more popular gaming VR headsets on the market.
Specs
Developer: Sony
Headset Type:
Resolution: 960 x 1080
Field of View:
Controls:
Software Platform: PlayStation 4 Pro
Documentation
1. Request SDK
SEE MORE
VIVE Pro
The VIVE Pro headset is one of the more popular and capable gaming VR headsets on the market. The motion camera is mounted to the wall and takes advantage of whole-room VR.
Specs
Developer: HTC
Headset Type: PC
Resolution: 1080 x 1200
Field of View: 110
Controls: VIVE Motion Controllers
Software Platform: Steam VR
Documentation
1. HTC VIVE Tutorial for Unity
2. VIVE Developers
3. VIVE PC Documentation
SEE MORE
Oculus Quest
The Oculus Quest is the first standalone VR headset that has 6 degrees of freedom. It has all of the same capabilities as a PCVR headset without the chords. It has 128 GB of memory. The Quest runs off of an Oculus specific version of the Android OS. It can only play games from the Oculus store when it isn't plugged in to a desktop. If it is plugged in to the desktop it can run games on steam as well.
Specs
Developer: Oculus
Headset Type: Standalone
Resolution: 1440x1600
Field of View: 90
Controls: Oculus Touch Controllers
Software Platform: Oculus
Documentation
SEE MORE
AUGMENTED REALITY HEADSETS
Hololens
The Hololens is one of the first commercially available sets of AR glasses on the market. It is untethered, but the glasses are fairly bulky.
Specs
Developer: Microsoft
Headset Type: Standalone
Resolution: 1268 X 720
Field of View: 35
Controls: Hand gesture, Handheld remote, Xbox controller
Software Platform: Microsoft
Documentation
1. Develop for Mixed Reality
2. Unity for Windows Mixed Reality
3. Unity Development Overview
4. Building a Hololens App with Unity
SEE MORE
Magic Leap
The Magic Leap is a AR Headset that does not require a tether to a PC. It does however need to be tethered to a Lightpack: a fairly large disk that the user places in a sling across their body. The MagicLeap features brighter colors and a wider field of view than other AR glasses before it.
Specs
Developer: Magic Leap
Headset Type: Standalone
Resolution: 1280 X 960
Field of View: 40
Controls: Handheld remote, hand gestures
Software Platform: Magic Leap
Documentation
1. Getting Started Developing with Magic Leap One and Unity
2. Magic Leap Creator Portal
3. 3 Step Guide to Magic Leap Setup and Unity Configuration
4. Unity Project Setup
SEE MORE
Hololens 2
Coming soon!
Specs
Developer: Microsoft
Headset Type: Standalone
Resolution: 1268 X 720
Field of View: 35
Controls: Hand gesture, Handheld remote, Xbox controller
Software Platform: Microsoft
Documentation
SEE MORE
INPUT TOOLS
Leap Motion
Leap motion is a device that can integrate with your VR platform to use hand tracking. Use the Leap Motion if your project requires complex hand gesturing as input in virtual reality.
Specs
Developer: Leap Motion
Documentation
1. Getting Started with Leap SDK
SEE MORE
PlayStation 4 Dualshock Controller
A gamepad controller that is compatible with the PlayStation 4.
Specs
Developer: Sony
Documentation
1. About Dualshock 4
SEE MORE
Myo Armband
Myo is an armband that can track limited hand gesturing by reading the muscles in your arm. Use Myo if your project requires a little bit of hand gesturing as input in virtual reality.
Specs
Developer: Myo
Documentation
1. Myo Developer Blog
2. Getting Started Guide
SEE MORE
Xbox Controller
A gamepad controller that you can connect to your PC via bluetooth. Great for PC VR projects.
Specs
Developer: Microsoft
Documentation
1. Oculus OVRInput
2. Xbox controller Gear VR
SEE MORE
PlayStation VR Move Controllers
A set of VR controllers that are compatible with the PlayStation 4. With motion sensors and ergonomics, they are more immersive than the Dualshock 4.
Specs
Developer: Sony
Documentation
1. About PlayStation VR Move
SEE MORE
PlayStation VR Aim Controller
A PlayStation VR controller that is optimized for shooter VR games.
Specs
Developer: Sony
Documentation
SEE MORE
COMPUTER HARDWARE AND CONSOLES
Dell Precision 3630
There are eight of these computers stationed throughout the lab. They are optimized for creating games and virtual reality projects.
Specs
Developer: Dell
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K
RAM: 32GB RAM
Storage: 512GB SSD, 2TB HDD
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080
Monitor Resolution: 4K
SEE MORE
Alienware 15 R4
This gaming laptop is very powerful while also portable.
Specs
Developer: Alienware
CPU: Intel Core i9-8650HK
RAM: 32GB RAM
Storage: 1TB SSD, 1TB HDD
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 OC
Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080
SEE MORE
PlayStation 4 Pro with PlayStation VR
The PlayStation 4 Pro is a gaming console that is compatible with PlayStation VR. The MR Lab includes all the pieces required to play on the PlayStation VR, including the motion camera, Move Controllers, and VR Headset.
Specs
Developer: Sony
CPU: x86-64 AMD “Jaguar”, 8 cores
RAM: 8GB GDDR5
Storage: 1TB
Graphics Card: 4.20 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ based graphics engine
Monitor Resolution:
SEE MORE
CAMERAS
Ricoh Theta V 360
This camera is perfect for capturing 360 degree photos and footage in 4K. Plugin can allow streaming to YouTube or uploading to Google Photos.
Sportzcam 4K
Portable and mountable Go-Pro camera that captures 4k videos and pictures.
LAB AMENITIES
White Boards
The lab has four white boards available for student use.
4K TVs
The lab features eight 4K TVs. On these TVs you can easily display what the user sees through their PC headset.
Screen Projector
The lab has has a projector on the west side of the main room available for student use. There is also a roll-down screen to accomodate the projection.
Immersive Projection Wall With Surround Sound
In the back room, the east wall has a projection wall that features immersive surround sound. This is great for prototyping VR and AR projects.
PAST PROJECTS
OLDER 
NEWER
REQUEST LAB ACCESS
If you not currently enrolled in a Mixed Reality class at BYU, but would like use the facility to work on a project, you can request access to the lab by clicking the REQUEST ACCESS button below and submitting the form. Looking to get started on a project? Click GET STARTED.