Varjo has introduced Teleport, their new, innovative tool designed for environment scanning and reconstruction using Gaussian Splats. I had the chance to try it out, so let’s dive into my experience and the details about this exciting launch.
I’m in Helsinki for MatchXR, courtesy of the Helsinki XR Center, but Varjo did woo me with some chocolate, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Rest assured, my sweet spot for chocolate won’t cloud my judgment in explaining this tech marvel.
Varjo Teleport
Varjo is renowned for their top-tier VR headsets, known for exceptional resolution. The XR-4 Focal Edition, for example, boasts the sharpest passthrough visuals I’ve seen. Today, instead of a device, they’ve launched Varjo Teleport, a service that lets you capture your environment using a smartphone, enabling exploration in VR later on. This tool, using the hotly discussed Gaussian Splatting technology, makes environment digitization possible so you or others can “teleport” into it virtually.
I first previewed Teleport at AWE US, observing its potential, albeit recognizing it needed some smoothing out. Now, with its official release, I’m here to share everything about this intriguing tool.
Scanning Your Environment
Let’s begin with the starting point: creating content. I spoke with Varjo’s engineers and they’ve emphasized making Teleport user-friendly, enabling anyone—not just pros—to scan an environment in about 5 to 10 minutes. This accessibility is one of Teleport’s strongest selling points.
To use it, you need an iPhone (due to LiDAR capabilities). Launching the app, I roamed around the room, capturing every angle. Upon completion, the data is uploaded to Varjo’s cloud, where the transformation magic happens, turning your scans into virtual spaces ready for entry.
The number of scans you can perform hinges on your subscription plan.
Hands-on With Environment Scanning
Intrigued by its ease of use, I decided to take on the challenge. I’m no photogrammetry savant, which made me the perfect test subject. A somewhat nervous Varjo team handed me a phone, and there I went, capturing the room with everyone inside holding their positions like mannequins.
Using the app, I was pleased to find a straightforward guide assisting the scanning process. As a novice, capturing the room wasn’t instinctive, with decisions on where to point the phone posing a challenge. Guided by the app, I circled the room, varied my phone’s altitude, and concentrated on feature-rich objects, aiming for superior VR presentation. Some hiccups popped up—a fast-moving warning from the app and a few forgotten corners needing better coverage.
The interface was familiar, akin to a camera app recording video with a frame counter on top. The system doesn’t rely on full videos but extracts keyframes during movement. Upon wrapping up at around 600 frames, I reviewed the results and, wary of monopolizing anyone’s time or risking exile in the Finnish snow, uploaded my capture promptly.
I received my scan results, which Varjo kindly deemed “a good first capture,” though I’d rank it more modestly. Some elements were magnificently reconstructed, while the ceiling, floor, and people resembled abstract art. A learning curve persists in creating quality scans, reminding me of shooting films—it’s easy to start, but mastering it requires practice. Both Varjo and the users, including me, have room for improvement.
Viewing the Environments
Once your scan upload completes, Varjo’s servers take several hours (ranging from 2 to 24) to process it before you can explore it virtually.
What’s clever about Varjo is their decision to cater not only to VR users but to any device through the web. Accessing a scanned environment is as simple as clicking a shared link in your browser—be it on a phone, tablet, or PC. You can navigate the space via familiar device controls, adjusting the quality level as needed. Mobile devices can view in lower quality, while PCs can opt for HD, and VR setups for the ultimate ULTRA-HD. Rendering is local, eliminating streaming issues.
For the best VR experience, ULTRA-HD is needed since every detail matters in immersion. This does mean using a robust PC (NVIDIA RTX 3090 or equivalent recommended). You’ll need to install Varjo’s desktop client to view these teleports in VR, although any OpenXR-compatible headset works.
I commend Varjo for embracing web accessibility, enabling anyone with a VR headset to experience environments deeply, while others can still engage from their chosen device. Adding WebXR compatibility could enhance this further. Sharing those environments is frictionless, akin to distributing unlisted YouTube links—simple and precise.
Hands-on Viewing Experience
I explored a few environments crafted during Varjo’s closed beta, involving 2,000 testers who refined the solution. These scenes, like a car garage and graffiti-strewn stairs, showcased high scanning quality. Some environments, like a forest, presented more challenges and didn’t impress as much. The quality invariably ties back to the detail of the initial scan.
Teleport, akin to other VR solutions, impresses with moments of lifelike immersion but falters when reconstruction artifacts emerge. Enhancing these hiccups with AI or visual tricks could elevate the VR experience considerably.
Navigating in VR involves teleporting or free-moving, with flying offering comprehensive exploration, though it might induce motion sickness in some.
I tested on various devices: navigation and rendering were mostly smooth, though demanding scenes suffered from lag. A high-performance setup is advisable, and additional optimizations from Varjo could improve cross-device stability.
Since my initial June preview at AWE US, Teleport’s environment quality has risen, with Varjo poised to compete with peers like Gracia and Horizon Hyperscape.
Comparing Varjo Teleport, Horizon Hyperscape, and Gracia
Having dabbled with these prominent apps, here’s a quick rundown:
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Meta Horizon Hyperscape: Exemplary for showcasing meticulously reconstructed environments, operating on Quest via Meta’s streaming service. Current supply is limited to demos, pending a broader community tool release.
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Gracia: Excellent for immersive, dynamic scenes featuring Gaussian Splats across PC VR and standalone platforms. Notably amazes with volumetric video capabilities, standing as a versatile choice.
- Teleport: A comprehensive solution covering scanning, visualization, and sharing. Its strength lies in static scene reconstruction, compromised by the absence of certain apps on standalone headsets.
Each app excels in certain areas, with Gracia strongest in object rendering, Teleport superior for environments, and Hyperscape poised to demonstrate full potential once user-generated content becomes available.
Pricing and Availability
Teleport is accessible at teleport.varjo.com. Viewing environments is generally free, but VR access requires free registration. Scanning necessitates a paid subscription, starting at €30/month for 15 scans and additional features. A free trial is available.
I’m impressed with Teleport, especially its all-inclusive approach to scanning and sharing environments. While it’s advantageous for professionals, hobbyists might seek budget-friendly alternatives.
Looking Ahead
Teleport and its counterparts hint at a future where virtual tours and immersive content redefine how we document and share experiences. From virtual house tours to dynamic project management and personal memories, this tech has transformative potential.
As technology continues evolving, immersive scanning could go from novelty to mainstream, much like photography did in its early days. While today’s tools cater primarily to professionals or enthusiasts, they’re paving the way for broader consumer adoption.
Special thanks to Annaleena, Valeria, Jobin, and the mysterious fourth person for their assistance during my demonstration!
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