Kiosk mode is a setting that limits the interactive features of a virtual reality headset. Instead of the regular selection menu, an app of choice or a video (gallery) is presented to the user.
Why use this Kiosk mode for your presentations? Let’s start with these ten advantages:
- The owner can hand off the device without worrying about the user pressing the wrong button or altering the settings.
- It’s very easy to train representatives, personnel or volunteers to use the device which speeds up the training process.
- With ‘gaze based’ selection the user can select menu items using the direction they’re looking at. A dedicated VR controller is not required, which makes operation easier, and the loss/damage of peripherals is greatly reduced.
- It’s easy to load the required content beforehand. That means an active internet connection is not required, which enhances not only the user experience but it also prevents technical issues on location.
- Instead of guiding each user through every step, the assistant can hand off the VR headset with minimal instructions. This allows for multiple headsets and users concurrently with minimal assistance from the staff.
- Let the user see what you want them to see and nothing else. The focus is placed squarely on the content that the owner provides, there are no distractions for the user.
- Not every user will be an expert, in fact there will be many first-time users of virtual reality hardware. Kiosk mode creates a foolproof environment without any room for confusion. There are no wrong buttons here!
- It’s possible to preload virtually any existing application and force that to boot as default. This turns a VR device into a single purpose system. For instance; install the Ocean Rift app and let users dive into the deep blue sea.
- It’s also possible to load an app that was developed for internal use, a custom application that is not available in the regular App Store.
- The process is completely non-destructive and reversible. This means you can set the VR headset back to default mode as desired.
Can any VR device be used for Kiosk mode?
Sadly, the answer is no. It’s actually very rare for a hardware manufacturer to offer a Kiosk mode as a standard feature. However, on Android devices it’s relatively easy to change the software with a process called ‘sideloading’. This allows for the installation of custom apps.
by booting this custom app the rest of the functionality is essentially hidden. It’s a clever software trick that is fortunately reversible. This means the device can also be used in the default state, with access to all of the features that particular headset provides.
App or video?
There are two types of content; interactive applications and video. With the Look&Play software it’s not only possible to limit the device to one app, it’s also an option to load multiple videos and present them in a gallery. We offer a kiosk mode for your virtual reality app as well as an easy kiosk mode presentation of 360 video.
This is a great feature for all kinds of purposes ranging from entertainment to education or POS systems. The limit on the VR content is based solely on the storage capacity on the device. For example 64GB storage on the Oculus Go.
In terms of file management and installation the process is quite straightforward. However, it’s always possible to hire a VR agency to setup multiple devices. With the software you only pay for the license on a device, this makes it a scalable option.
Besides buying the required software a temporary key is also an option, this is great for a one-time event. As you can see, the ten aforementioned advantages of a Kiosk mode are just the tip of the iceberg!
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