TrackIR - a pain in the neck?

[Wayfarer]

Having got to the stage in my early period campaign where enemy aircraft are starting to take a really unhealthy interest in me, I have been giving TrackIR serious consideration. One concern I have, however, is that it seems my occipital nerve (up the back of your neck and round each side of your head - apparently) is easily aggravated. Amongst the 101 things that upsets it is repeated turning of the head. I have things set up at work to avoid this. Symptoms can include acute headache, sensitivity to light (I thought I was becoming a vampire) and plain old throwing up (embarrassing at work).

I would be interested to hear if anyone has encountered any problems like this themselves.

I really would like to try TrackIR, but if the odds are it will bring this on ( something does most days) it might be wise to give it a miss and my wingmen will just have to make more effort to defend themselves!

[TurtleHawk]

TIR can be adjusted to provide a wide FOV with slight/small head movement. It's really quite useful.

If you're saying, almosy ANY head movement causes pain, then it might not work.

 

Once you use TIR, you'll wonder how you ever flew without it.

It's like going from using the keyboard to using HOTAS.

 

Just my $.02

[+Olham]

The angle, in which you would move your head with TrackIR, is only just the angle between

looking from the left edge of your screen to it's right edge.

Within that angle, you will receive the view from forward to check-six left or check-six right.

The speed, in which the view will change, can be adjusted.

 

I think, much more important might be in front of the screen, not to tense up your neck,

which happens easisly due to the emotional stress during a dogfight.

If you think you can make the movement from left to right edge of the screen more often

(without doing that too hard, or tensed up), without getting a pain, then you could try it.

 

Here is a NaturalPoint demo video, which may give you an idea:

 

[markl]

You are not the only one. I find I get a very stiff neck using it. For now I have put it back in the box, but I do hope to come back to it some day.

 

Cheers MarkL

[MikeDixonUK]

The only time I've ever had a strain issue while using TrackIR 4 is when I try to look down the ironsights of an MG that's stuck out to the side of the Cockpit (such as in the Bristol Scout) - but thats just because I have to hold a precise position (so that the sights line up) at the very edge of the TrackIR tracking range, and it's my own fault for taking it all too seriously, as I could just use the button that automaticaly looks down the ironsights.

 

Other than that I've not had any issues with neck strain, and I usualy spin my (in game) head around more often than not - can't trust those dastardly Huns not to sneak up on a Chap!

 

Can't give you any advice as for your specific neck issue however, but I hope you can use it ok as it's a great piece of kit.

Edited December 12, 2010 by MikeDixonUK

[+Olham]

Well, I have one little advice, but it may spoil the immersion quite a bit for you.

You could press "pause" every some minutes and relax your neck, stretch it and such.

[GHunter]

I love mine. I did notice after playing this game all day and then getting in my car to run some errands I got that feeling you get when you get off a boat and on to dry land again after a days sailing.

 

 

 

G

[+Olham]

UncleAl: With Trackir you're using muscles you never used before...

 

What? Do you never look left and right at crossings?

All you do with TrackIR is looking left or right, up or down, as far as the edges of your screen.

Or did they send me the wrong tool??

[Wayfarer]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm going take it it under further consideration after Christmas. I have a couple of friends who used TrackIR and I think I might be able to get a live demo in the New Year.