What do you think of when you think of an eye mask? Does the Halloween holiday come to mind? What about pirates and pirate ships? Maybe a medical condition comes to mind. Actually, any of these could be true, in the loosest sense of the word (especially the pirate ship) in a virtual reality (VR) game or experience. However, that is not what we are referencing in this particular discussion on eye masks (affiliate) in virtual reality.

This might be a boring topic, but it is a very important topic. That is because it is about hygiene and your health.

Eye Masks for Health

Hey, maybe you have the healthiest body in the world. In fact, the healthiest body that has ever existed in the world. That is great! Pat yourself on the back for that one! But, there may come a time, especially if you are so healthy that you are still participating in virtual reality when you are 90 years old, sitting next to the sexy nurse who is meant to handle your meds in the local senior citizens’ home… There may come a time when health is higher on the list of benefits in your life.

In that case, you may wish that you had taken more time to pay attention to the little things, especially those buggers called germs.

Steps to Be Taken

Fortunately, in virtual reality, it is not that difficult to take a couple of extra steps to ensure that you stay healthy. It also won’t break the bank. So, set aside a few seconds and a few pennies and you will thank yourself later.

When it comes to virtual reality, eye masks are sort of like having rubber gloves. No, we are not talking about some cop show and avoid leaving fingerprints. Instead, we are talking about stopping from passing (or receiving) germs.

Eye mask sizing is different from, say, gloves. Gloves may come in different sizes (really tiny to very large). In contrast, eye masks are generally a one size fits all. But, even if you happen to have a larger head than most, you can find a way to obtain an eye mask that works for you and fits comfortably on your head (especially considering the benefits that the hygiene will provide).

You will not win any beauty contests with the eye masks, but you will be prettier longer because of your awesome good health!

Why Health?

The idea with the eye mask is that you put it on your face, around your eyes, in order to protect that part of your skin/face. Then, you use your VR gear over the top of the eye mask.

The eyes are known to be a source of germs excreting from the body. They are also a direct inward spot into your body. Without getting too disgusting about it, the eyes are one of the most vulnerable places on the body. This is especially true when it comes to germs. There are, of course, other vulnerable places, as well, but in the case of virtual reality, the eyes are likely to be the top of the list for discussion, as well as the most accessible.

Not all eye masks are the same, so be sure to read the reviews and get the highest quality necessary to protect yourself. You will be glad you did!

Apple and its iPhone iOS have had a bit of a slow start in the virtual reality (VR) world. It has not been one of the most popular platforms, having been outdone by HTC Vive or Oculus Rift. Samsung’s Gear VR has worked well for the Samsung phones, but that still does not help the iPhone with its popularity.

Fortunately, with the virtual reality apps that are available via the App Store on the iPhone, as well as opportunities with panoramic videos and 3D style opportunities, there are some possibilities for the Mac users and their iPhones. This is especially true with Google’s Cardboard viewer and the ability to insert the iPhone into the makeshift viewer, whether it is something that was purchased at the low rate of four dollars or it was the product of a do-it-yourself activity with the family.

Of course, the iPhone can also be inserted into most VR viewers on the market.

Will Apple catch up with some of the other VR platforms out there? Will the graphics speed up enough to satisfy the VR players and encourage them to use the Mac OS?

Keep in mind that it is not only the Apple users who love their iPhones. There are many people out there who are not Apple users but still love their iPhones.

How Do You Satisfy Mac Users?

Mac users tend to be very loyal with their selection of their software. They are not eager to discard the Mac OS. At the same time, Mac users do not have a problem keeping their Mac desktop (or laptop) and switching over to a Windows emulator (like Parallels) in order to use Windows software.

If a Mac user is going to go to that length, why not pick up an Android or Samsung at an affordable rate. This is especially helpful with used devices on sale. Also, opportunities like eBay exist. It is not like the VR player has to be married to the smartphone of choice as they can still continue to use their Mac desktop or iPhone smartphone for what they were intended to be used and use the purchased Android or Samsung for the virtual reality play.

It is not like the VR player has to be married to the smartphone of choice as they can still continue to use their Mac desktop or iPhone smartphone for what they were intended to be used and use the purchased Android or Samsung for the virtual reality play.

Benefits of the Used Equipment and Cardboard Viewer Approach

So, now you have a used smartphone and something like the Google Cardboard viewer. This is a wise approach.

By taking this approach, the VR participant does not have to worry about scratches as much. They also don’t have to worry about dents or any other disturbing results to their smartphone. After all, the Google Cardboard does not appear to be the strongest gear equipment or device out there, so damage is likely inevitable. It is easy to understand how a smartphone may slip out of its hold. This could especially be true if the VR players become exuberant in their virtual reality play. From there, one could accidentally knock into one another as they participate in their virtual reality activity in the most meaningful way possible.

Why limit the level of fun? By using a lower dollar device, that comes with a myriad of VR opportunities, and adding a Cardboard viewer, the player may be able to have more fun.

Other Viewer Possibilities

There are other viewers on the market and some are reminiscent of the 1960s Mattel Viewmaster. It is easy to see how the virtual reality viewers appear to be cousins of the same technology. It is also easy to see how the science fiction technology starts to inspire additional technology.

The viewers may not have become communicators yet, like Star Trek. If that were the case, we could have the transporting of an individual from the space station to the spaceship. However, understanding that a smartphone is a communication tool and it fits within the Google Cardboard helps. It may even help to allow the individual VR players to feel as if they are on the spaceship.

From there, it is easy to see that the makings for the comm button. That, and the transporter are just around the corner… at least virtually speaking.