Blind Person Tries VR Games | Quest 2

[@wearesunrise]

I am a legally blind Beat Saber player, I'm fully blind in my right eye and have very low vision in my left eye. I have almost no depth presentation. In beat saber I just have to memorize the menus and use a ton of mods to make the game more accessible.

[@terryenby2304]

This is incredibly thoughtful and helpful for people who want to make things more accessible, and people who want to understand things from different points of view. Thank you so much for sharing! It was lovely watching you play with a stranger, he seemed genuinely surprised but nice, and that was cool! It’s always confidence improving for me (with different disabilities) to see positive interactions with random people. It really helps me feel braver and more able to access the world on a mental level. So, thank you so much for all of this work!

[@triplehelixxxvr]

Glad to see more blind content creators experience VR. There’s a surprising amount of visually impaired VR users out there, and I really wish developers would realize that. So many games are unplayable due to menus or UI being way too small, or way too big and far away.

[@poppyfield4463]

Loved this! This was so fun to watch and your experience was insightful! Would love to see more of you in VR, especially interacting with strangers

[@jamesrath]

Thank you! Will do!

[@MaggieKB]

Great video! I have visual impairment with a severe macular pucker in the right eye causing a huge blind spot and the rest of the image shifted up and to the left. It is also distorted like in a carnival fun house mirror. The left eye is now developing a blind spot dead center making reading text difficult as parts of letters don't show and I interpret some as different characters. I use a Quest 2 quite a bit because I can see almost normally with it. However, only today did it occur to me that maybe I could use it or the Quest Pro as a way to see computer screens better if I can still see the keyboard. I would be overjoyed if it would let me use a midi keyboard to use my DAW software better. Since, my vision probably will deteriorate, I have hope that this tech will help. Your video helped me. Thank you!

[@cutedogsweetsugar]

I'd love to see you interract with more people in Vr. Your table temnis bud seemed so nice!

[@jamesrath]

I'll make it happen!

[@bekahchu4102]

I'm glad you mentioned Wii Sports! My dad used to play wii sports with me when he was legally blind in one eye and fully blind in the other. His favorite game was the baseball one he said he could hear when to hit it and he got a homerun every single time he even asked me to stop telling him what was on the screen in that game since it was messing up his timing lol

[@danabelden4492]

Yeah I would like to try it with RP. And yes they could make the menu closer.

[@cem_kaya]

It is sad that there is no system level accessibility features like the ones on operating systems.

[@muhammadx656]

Lovely. keep going brother

[@othinus]

I'm partially sighted. Extremely near sighted in my left eye, and completely blind in my right. Please try using the headset with your right eye closed. Is the experience a lot worse when doing so(for playing games, using media apps)? Or is it somewhat similar with both eyes open. I'm asking coz VR headsets aren't sold locally here in the Philippines, ao I can't just go to a store and try it out. Our country doesn't offer product returns, unless they're faulty. Hoping to hear back from you. Stay healthy and cheers fron Philippines! 🙏⛑️💜🇵🇭🍻

[@matthewoleary02]

Just subscribed, nice to hear the experiences of other visually impaired people

[@JuanAlcazar]

Seems like there could be a lot of further accessibility potential here. The boxing game seemed like it was quite a workout.

[@madness1931]

I had to return the Quest 3, when I gave it a try. I couldn't even set it up. I think it was asking for my language, or region., Whenever I moved closer, the menu/window moved back. I couldn't move the window closer, get narration, or find a way to increase font. It was an instant deal breaker. As someone who loves tech, this was very disappointing.

[@anthropomorphicpeanut6160]

I'd love to have more videos like this! Did depth perception make you dizzy?

[@jamesrath]

I personally haven't gotten dizzy. Despite having Nystagmus, I rarely get motion sickness although I do see movement and shaking but I think I'm used to it.

[@powder0119]

Bro… THANK YOU for this video! Like you, I’ve been legally blind since birth and have about the same visual acuity as you do. Just got my quest 2 today and I feel way more comfortable with it now because of you! Much love from Austin TX!!

[@SethWilson]

I’m legally blind and I really want to try this

[@blindmoonlight9019]

I'm VIP and been using Quest 2 since 2020. Quest with prescription lens, night vision, large text, and additional accessibility settings through default and side quest. Sidequest bless you change the font which will and some fonts allow bigger texts. Also I'm very sensitive to light. I had to add an extra coating of blue light filter. And also what the help of visual desktop. We're only headache is with airlink. I honestly don't see the benefit of it. I work better with visual desktop. But overall it's nice to know I wasn't the only one cuz people really thought I was nuts when I said I could see in VR just not in real life

[@gabybleeker]

I coudn't play The withcher 3 on ps4 when I had a smaller led television. Now I have a 50 inch and can finally play it. I'm very glad games become more accessebible like The last of us 2, whith warnings sounds if you're standing on a edge you can fall off.

[@raphaelgoulet6779]

Have you found any suitable VR Headset for blind ? Something perhaps with high brightness and high contrast aotogether, I'm shopping for myself and it's a tough find

[@AlexManMe]

I tried this out when Meta came along to our offices this morning. It was super fun, although even with the largest text size, it was still not accessible. Basic actions, and navigations I managed to do. It definitely needs a low vision mode, where, if you go closer to read something like in the real world, it doesn’t trigger The border.

[@Official_Mr_Lex]

Bro I freaking love Beat Saber.

[@jamesrath]

Yeah I've really been enjoying it!!

[@Official_Mr_Lex]

@@jamesrath did you do the Greatest Showman one?

[@danielecorciulo8779]

is there a possibility to start apps using text to speech? I have a oculus go and am thinking to upgrade to the quest 2. I can see 1.5%. My problems are to launch the apss that I want.

[@mattalford3932]

Im legally blind. But my vision is 20 400. I can't seem to get vr headsets to not be blurry.

[@zoujou1710]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience

[@obama4614]

That’s awsome congrats on being able to use vr

[@AshtonG2022]

I found you the other day on a video about being Totally Blind and Legally blind and it made me find your channel so I’m happy to be here. I have a friend who is legally blind and has a seeing eye dog for wherever she goes unless it’s like at like a concert then she has friends who help whenever she needs it. Because it gets too much for the dog with all them people but she brought her dog to one concert where i met her than didn’t bring her to the last concert we met at because she was like on the floor seats at the stadium where we were at.

[@Rama_Rama_Rama]

Is this the person whom was recommended by Andrew Tate?

[@bethbuckleyrath4923]

I would like to see more interactions

[@AlexManMe]

I tried this out when Meta came along to our offices this morning. It was super fun, although even with the largest text size, it was still not accessible. Basic actions, and navigations I managed to do. It definitely needs a low vision mode, where, if you go closer to read something like in the real world, it doesn’t trigger The border.

[@dallassegno]

Man has eyes, tries vr

[@Gamedaughter1]

Thank you for sharing. I have Optic Nerve Hypoplasia and can't see 3D, but I have not had the chance to test out VR so I don't know if it would work for me. I am near-sighted as well and also have Nystagmus like you.

[@HeatherBHG]

How did u set Beat Saber to but have arrows? I didn't know that was the option

[@jamesrath]

You can turn off directions/arrows on the left side where there are options in the main menu.

[@steven.sp0hn]

James, I loved this video!!!!! It answered a lot of questions I had about VR as a fellow blind guy.

[@jholly5747]

Hi James Sorry if this comment is going in the wrong video, but I’m very new to vision loss and I can’t figure out how to get the comment in the if you lost your vision, how would that affect your life. I started to lose my vision in June 20 20 and now I am almost completely blind. The thing that changed for me is that I couldn’t continue in my job as a baker and cake decorator. Still haven’t found another job since 2020. I love your videos and how with your life despite your disability. I think I’m still at that stage where I’m trying to figure out life as a visually impaired person, how to do simple things in life like learn how to cook again and use the computer and get better at my king. Hopefully it won’t take me too long to be retrained to do the simple things in life as a VIP.

[@jamesrath]

Hey J Holly, I know vision loss can be very life-changing. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'll assume you're in the United States as that is the best I can speak to. You can contact your eye doctor and/or local state to learn about the resources available through state and federal programs. Often times they would refer you to a resource center, these can be nonprofits or government funded programs. For example, I grew up around Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania provided resources for me like audio books, magnifiers, orientation and mobility training, etc. They can provide vision loss aids and services. When I lived in Los Angeles, they had a palce called The Braille Institute that could train newly visually impaired people on assistive technology, kitchen and cooking skills, braille reading, cane training, etc. I would try to get referred or find your local vision loss resource centers or programs to set up a plan on next steps for adapting and employment resources. Fun fact, a friend of mine in Europe is vision impaired and she happens to be studying to be a baker at school right now! I wish you the best! -James

[@jholly5747]

@@jamesrath hi James. I am in Canada. And there are lots of resources here for the blind and visually impaired. We have the CNIB, a.k.a. Canadian national Institute for the blind. Plus, there is also the BLRC, a.k.a. vision, loss rehabilitation Canada, which is a great organization under the CNIB umbrella as they help people adjust to vision loss. they have on them trainers to get you up to speed with your keen skills. Also independent living specialist that can help you with learning how to cook again computer skills even teaching in braille. Although I recently discovered that if I wanna learn contracted beer rail. It will take me 2 to 3 years which is just crazy because I’m in my mid 50s. Maybe I’ll just stick with any contractor rail which would be easier just to learn the alphabet. Keep making your wonderful videos. I really love all the videos especially your travel video in the airport.

[@bidgetkinzinger2505]

քʀօʍօֆʍ

[@camelCased]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Yes, menus in games are also bad for me and can make things very inconvenient, while the game itself is very enjoyable even with low vision. I'm still looking into buying a VR headset but this menu issue is what bothers me. I've heard some VR headsets and software have an option for UI scaling, but I haven't yet researched into it. Some years ago I discovered that my vision disability makes me totally unable to see depth. So, cinema 3D glasses or Alioscopy 3D TV have no effect on me, I see the same image as on any normal TV. We went to Alioscopy demos with a few friends and they were excited about the objects on the screen popping out and floating in front of the screen. Nothing for me. However, I'm a huge fan of VR simulations purely for immersion and live interaction. And also I'm a programmer, working for almost 15 years. Maybe that's a strange job choice for a visually handicapped person, but the computer is the only thing that lets you enlarge your work tools and objects (that is, text). Also, I like programming a lot.

[@jamesrath]

Thanks for sharing with me. I hope VR accessibility only improves from here. 😎

[@blindmoonlight9019]

Have you checked out the nreal air yet?

[@jamesrath]

I've kept an eye on it. May try to get my hands on it in the next year because it does interest me.

[@blindmoonlight9019]

@@jamesrath yeah I got some for Christmas, and up sending it back. It did not work with Samsung flip 4. Also when it on projection mode, Hook directly into console, game, computer, and etc. The screen display moved with my head movement. It would have been more nice if the this way was fixed that way I could move my eyes back and forth to catch my blind spots. I hear it doesn't do that when logged into the app. But when I hooked it directly to my laptop and my Nintendo switch I could not see my blind spots because the screen moved with my head. Overall I was able to see the display and I guess since I'm visually impaired the background didn't bother me at all lol. I was hoping to put it in camera mode so that way I'll be able to see my surroundings a lot better. I figure I could get depth perception in real life using camera mode on my phone. Be nice to get around better without the need of somebody.

[@danielearl5395]

Would be chat work on it?

[@jamesrath]

VR Chat? If so, yes!

[@danielearl5395]

@@jamesrath that’s what I mean to type but I guess vr change to be for some reason lol stupid auto typing lmao

[@Exirock]

Legally blind yet can play games... resuming this guy shouldnt even be called blind, cause blind stand for no eyesight, yet this dude can see it seems without lens or eyecontacts, sorry this feel like a fake, cause u picked up apple vr recently and you can see with them which makes you not blind at all.

[@jamesrath]

What exactly are you trying to accomplish here? Is this a 'gotcha' attitude? I'd recommend doing some research or paying attention to the video before commenting. Google, the government, any ophthalmologist would tell you, 'blind' is a spectrum from a corrected acuity of 20/200 (US eye exam measurement) to worse. With or without glasses, my eyes see worse than 20/200, I'm qualified for government services for the blind, blind tax reductions, to apply for a guide dog, etc. 90% of people who are blind still see something. I see 5% of vision that is just blurry, shaky, bright colors. If something comes within a couple inches of my face, it's still blurry but it becomes a bit more identifiable, that's where VR can potentially be accessible for near-sighted legally blind and low vision people. Although I don't need to write all this as Google is a great resource along with my many videos that educate about the experience of blindness, I genuinely hope it helps and you gain some new knowledge... and please don't accuse proven disabled people of 'faking', it's tiring, dude. I hope you have a great rest of your day and can appreciate the accessibility! 😎

[@Exirock]

@@jamesrath Mate you no longer even write, this is exactly same answer copy paste i seen somewhere else by you, also kinda bad liking your own stuff, but sorry even if you have 5% vision you shouldn't really be able to see well neither able to play videogames the way you do, VR even new apple product shouldnt exactly boost your eyesight that much to make you see well, i know some people that are blind real blind people, some like me or even worse eyesight that requires glasses and even have a friend with a special glasses to see better that look like them googles, so dont go around making bs statements neither call yourself blind, say you are almost blind, if it helps search on google wtf means blind, so have a great day and keep seeing has blind.

[@jamesrath]

@@Exirock 😎Ah yes, I'll take your professional advice and disregard the actual legal definition of "blindness" and my diagnosis from my opthamologist, ya know, a licensed eye doctor who has seen me since I was an infant as I was one of the earliest diagnosis of my ocular condition as an infant. But yeah, I'm sure you're absolutely 100% accurate. 😉

[@nataliesullivan9909]

GOOD MORNINGS GOD'S BLESS AMEN!!💙🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙌🏼👏 HEY

[@jamesrath]

Good morning!