TrackIR Poll (Both TIR users and non users please respond)

Transitioning from using the hat switch or key presses to look around to using TrackIR isn't any different from when we transitioned from using the keyboard to fly the plane to using our first joystick. It wasn't instantaneous, and I'm sure there were people who didn't like the effect. The same thing happens with the first yoke after flying with a joystick. There are things to get used to. Remember how difficult it was the first time you used rudder pedals?

When I'm flying a spacecraft in Orbiter, I still prefer the keyboard to a joystick, except for the approach and landing. Of course, the space shuttle uses a specialized joystick where you move it slightly against a stop, then press against the stop to get the response. Quite a different feel. If I had that kind of joystick for the computer, I'd prefer that to the keyboard, but only for spacecraft. In this case, the keyboard might be considered more realistic.

Glasses: I never thought about that one. But I'm lucky in that my "normal" viewing distance is about where my monitor is. I need glasses to read or to see far away. If I needed glasses to see the computer screen, I'd invest in single vision glasses, probably from http://www.zennioptical.com/ so I wouldn't have to pay $500 or whatever glasses go for these days.

Motion sickness: some people experience this with first person shooters until they get used to how the view moves. It's the same with TrackIR; your view doesn't move the way you expect and your eyes take some time to adjust. Once that happens the motion sickness should go away. Actually, I have the most problems when I've got TrackIR paused and try to turn my head. My eyes can't track the unmoving screen because they're used to how TrackIR moves it. Not enough to cause motion sickness, but It's only for a second or two at a time.

I prefer to do everything from the virtual cockpit. This means I have to look around a lot, especially since I use a higher zoom. I'm currently trying a custom zoom of 1.25 and it seems about right, although 1.5 does make the scenery look better.

If I were flying an airliner using 2D panels pretty much exclusively, and looking straight ahead all the time, the only time I'd need TrackIR is during taxi and occasionally to look at the scenery during flight. Might not be worth it in that case. Flying a DC-3 in the Alaskan bush at 2500 feet so I'm below the ceiling, there's plenty of scenery to look at. Threading your way through a mountain pass with very limited visibility will keep your eyes moving constantly, and would be difficult without TrackIR, although I've done it.

Hook