Will Tilt Brush, which instantly transforms you into Ma Liang with the magic brush, be the killer application in the non-gaming VR field?

If you have seen the promotional video for Microsoft's augmented reality glasses HoloLens, you will definitely remember this clip where users wear HoloLens to draw and model in three-dimensional space and can appreciate the work in 360 degrees.

This function can also be realized in the VR (virtual reality) field, and allows users to create freely in three-dimensional space. Previously, Google developed a VR painting software called "Tilt Brush" for HTC Vive. In recent days, Google has released the latest video demonstration of the software, and the display effect is eye-opening.

What is it like to paint with Tilt Brush?

As a must-play APP for HTC Vive, Tilt Brush has been shown at major technology exhibitions since its launch, including the 2016 GDC Game Developers Conference, the NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto, and the HTC Vive Summit. I was lucky enough to experience this painting software on HTC Vive.

After launching Tilt Brush on HTC Vive, users can freely paint in the 3D space on the screen, or use specific brushes to paint stars, light, rainbows or flames. Most importantly, the canvas you paint on becomes a space instead of a two-dimensional plane. You can paint in front, behind, to the left or right, or even travel inside the painting. This painting experience is more like completing a sculpture. When you swing the brush, every line is presented in 360 degrees. If you are particularly satisfied with your work, you can also use the "Screenshot" tool in the toolbar to take a screenshot and share it.

Objectively speaking, Tilt Brush is one of the most interactive VR applications that I have experienced so far. It fully utilizes the visual characteristics of VR to stimulate the user's desire to create. The price of Tilt Brush on Steam is 88 yuan, and the software has a positive review rate of almost 100%.

According to HTC, Glen Keane, former chief animator of Disney, used HTC Vive to draw a mermaid. Not long ago, The Verge's editors also tried to use it to complete clothing design. In addition, this app also has an Android mobile terminal that can be adapted to Cardboard.

Is it the killer app for non-gaming VR?

In 2015, Google acquired the San Francisco-based design studio Skillman & Hackett , which had been committed to exploring the fields of high-speed profiling and virtual reality, and had participated in the development of Kinect, Leap Motion, Oculus, etc. The "Tilt Brush" they designed was originally based on Oculus Rift, but after the launch of Vive, they cooperated with Vive to launch an adapted version that can make full use of Vive's large-space tracking and positioning system.

According to industry insiders, the development of the software "Tilt Brush" is not as complicated as imagined. The key lies in the production creativity and how to combine it with VR. Compared with other games that deliberately add panoramic elements, painting makes it easier for users to get started with VR devices. Instead of making games for users, it is better to let users create freely and experience the fun of VR.

Clay Bavor, head of Google's VR department, recently accepted an exclusive interview with the American magazine "Popular Science". When asked, "Although VR is still in its early stages, the experience of VR games feels great. So, what are the killer applications in the non-gaming VR field?" Clay Bavor said that like many killer applications for computers and smartphones, VR will also become an ordinary computer device that can do many things, from interactive entertainment, games to mobile office.

From the current point of view, "Tilt Brush" is not only suitable for professional painting, drawing, and modeling, but also allows ordinary users to enjoy the fun of panoramic perspective creation. Compared with games, its application range is wider. But the only problem now is that not everyone is willing to spend money to buy an HTC Vive. How to apply this software in ordinary VR devices has become the next issue that Google needs to consider.

Clay Bavor said, "How do you handle things in the real world? How do you do it in virtual reality? In the real world, to open a door, we just need to twist the door handle, and the "door handle" conveys the meaning of "opening the door". In the virtual reality world, some objects are used to indicate the operation, and these objects are given certain functions. Our brain is good at interaction and operation in the real world. By borrowing these habits into virtual reality, users can easily understand how to use these designs."

Today, when VR hardware, games, and applications are beginning to converge, the emergence of Tilt Brush is particularly precious. If users feel that VR equipment is nothing new when they first come into contact with it, they may not promote VR to their friends in the future. But if VR gives users a wonderful experience that cannot be achieved in the real world, that is the greatest charm of VR.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.