Samsung Gear VR Side Effects List May Terrify

[dgstorm]

Just yesterday we shared that the Samsung Gear VR headset (which is meant to pair exclusively with the Galaxy Note 4), is now available to purchase from Samsung's website. It even has a relatively affordable price of just $199.99. Despite the solid price and cool factor of owning a VR headset, it turns out that some of us may want to think twice before we purchase this cutting edge, still experimental device.

Perusing the side-effects and warnings list that is associated with the Samsung Gear VR, one would think they were purchasing an experimental prescription drug rather than a cool piece of tech. In fact, the list is so daunting it might just scare people away from the product completely. The list comes from the final checkout page when you go to purchase the device.

The list includes such notable examples as if you experience any of the following, you should stop using it immediately, "seizures, loss of awareness, eye strain, eye or muscle twitching, involuntary movements, altered, blurred, or double vision or other visual abnormalities, dizziness, disorientation, impaired balance, impaired hand-eye coordination, excessive sweating, increased salivation, nausea, light-headedness, discomfort or pain in the head or eyes, drowsiness, fatigue, or any symptoms similar to motion sickness.”

The list also suggests that “prolonged use of the Gear VR and input devices (e.g. controllers) can make your muscles, joints, or skin hurt” and can possibly lead to “excessive drowsiness and decreased ability to multi-task.”

There's much more to it than that though. In all, the list contains 16 different warnings. We have included it in the thread below for your edification. The device doesn't sound quite as exciting as it did before...

Source: ArsTechnica

 

[dgstorm]

Here's that full quote from the Samsung Gear VR warnings list:

"1. We recommend consulting a physician before using the Gear VR if you are pregnant, elderly, have pre-existing binocular vision abnormalities or psychiatric disorders, or suffer from a heart condition or other serious medical condition.

2. The Gear VR should not be used by children under the age of 13. Adults should monitor children (age 13 and older) who are using or have used the Gear VR for any of the symptoms described below, and should limit the time children spend using the Gear VR and ensure they take breaks during use. Prolonged use should be avoided, as this could negatively impact hand-eye coordination, balance,and multi-tasking ability. Adults should monitor children closely during and after use of the Gear VR for any decrease in these abilities.

3. A comfortable virtual reality experience requires an unimpaired sense of motion and balance. Do not use the Gear VR when you are tired, need sleep, are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, are hung-over, have digestive problems, are under emotional stress or anxiety, or when suffering from cold, flu, headaches, migraines, or earaches, as this can increase your susceptibility to adverse symptoms.

4. Immediately discontinue use if anyone using the Gear VR experiences any of the following symptoms: seizures, loss of awareness, eye strain, eye or muscle twitching, involuntary movements, altered, blurred, or double vision or other visual abnormalities, dizziness, disorientation, impaired balance, impaired hand-eye coordination, excessive sweating, increased salivation, nausea, light-headedness, discomfort or pain in the head or eyes, drowsiness, fatigue, or any symptoms similar to motion sickness.

5. Anyone who has had a seizure, loss of awareness, or other symptoms linked to an epileptic condition should consult a physician before using the Gear VR.

6. Just as with the symptoms people can experience after they disembark a cruise ship, symptoms of virtual reality exposure can persist and become more apparent hours after use. These post-use symptoms can include the symptoms above, as well as excessive drowsiness and decreased ability to multi-task. These symptoms may put you at an increased risk of injury when engaging in normal activities in the real world. Do not drive, operate machinery, or engage in other visually or physically demanding activities that have potentially serious consequences (i.e., activities in which experiencing any symptoms could lead to death, personal injury, or damage to property), or other activities that require unimpaired balance and hand-eye coordination (such as playing sports or riding a bicycle, etc.)until you have fully recovered from any symptoms.

7. Do not use the Gear VR while in a moving vehicle such as a car, bus, or train, as this can increase your susceptibility to adverse symptoms.

8. For the safest experience always remain seated when using the Gear VR. Take special care to ensure that you are not near other people, objects, stairs, balconies, windows, furniture, or other items that you can bump into or knockdown when using or immediately after using the Gear VR. Do not handle sharp or otherwise dangerous objects while using the Gear VR. Never wear the Gear VR in situations that require attention, such as walking, bicycling, or driving.

9. The Gear VR may be equipped with a pass-through feature which permits you to temporarily see your surroundings for brief real world interaction. You should always remove the Gear VR for any situation that requires attention or coordination.

10. Take at least a 10 to 15 minute break every 30 minutes, even if you do not think you need it. Each person is different, so take more frequent and longer breaks if you feel discomfort. You should decide what works best.

11. Prolonged use of the Gear VR and input devices (e.g. controllers) can make your muscles, joints or skin hurt. If any part of your body becomes tired or sore while playing, or if you feel symptoms such as tingling, numbness, burning or stiffness, stop and rest for several hours before playing again. If you continue to have any of the above symptoms or other discomfort during or after play, stop using theGear VR and consult a physician.

12. Be mindful of the type of content that you were using prior to the onset of any symptoms because you may be more prone to symptoms based upon the content being used.

13. The Gear VR can emit radio waves that can affect the operation of nearby electronics, including cardiac pacemakers. If you have a pacemaker or other implanted medical device, do not use the GearVR without first consulting your physician or the manufacturer of your medical device.

14. Do not look directly at bright light while you are wearing the device without the mobile device inserted. Doing so may damage your eyesight.

15. If you are allergic to the paint or metal parts on the device, you may experience itching,eczema, or swelling of the skin. If this happens, stop using the device and consult your physician.

16. Consult a physician if you have serious and/or persistent symptoms.

The Samsung GALAXY Note 4 may become hotter than normal when used with the Gear VR, especially if you use the devices to play games for an extended period. When the Gear VR detects a high temperature, the quality of the application may be degraded or VR applications may be terminated in order to prevent overheating. This is normal and does not affect the Samsung GALAXY Note 4's lifespan or performance.

Also, the Samsung GALAXY Note 4's battery runtime may become shorter than normal when it is used with the Gear VR since VR applications use more of the device's resources and may contribute to battery drain.

You may experience slow loading speed or diminished playback quality in some circumstances, such as after extended use (to prevent the device from overheating) or if your carrier or Wi-Fi network is slow or out of range.

Lastly, availability of VR-enabled content and applications and language support may vary by region."

 

[Ollie]

Wow. So this is like when the new iOS 7 animations were making people nauseous. Lolz.

 

[gadgetrants]

No biggie. I saw the same exact list on my marriage certificate.

-Matt

 

[FoxKat]

No biggie. I saw the same exact list on my marriage certificate.

-Matt

Funny, I never saw that list... Wifey must have snagged it and burned it.

 

[Ollie]

Funny, I never saw that list... Wifey must have snagged it and burned it.

Women are crafty like that.

 

[gadgetrants]

Funny, I never saw that list... Wifey must have snagged it and burned it.

Hmmm...crafty indeed. You'd think she'd leave the terms in place, and cleverly note that they apply to both parties. LOL

-Matt

 

[johnomaz]

That is all to remove liability from Samsung. I personally wouldn't think twice about it.

 

[androidlearner]

The list is almost completely common sense C.O.A. jargon. When have you ever been able to be 2 inches from a screen and NOT have blurry vision? As for seizures and whatnot... Flashing lights ALWAYS have a risk of causing them. As far as I'm concerned, there really isn't anything on the list that isn't out of the ordinary.

 

[cr6]

Sounds a lot safer than some of the prescriptions I take.

S5 tap'n

 

[xeene]

I believe same warnings are included on all gaming consoles.

 

[Dusty]

On the bright side, I didn't see Tourette's and explosive uncontrollable diarrhea.
That combination is a real B.

 

[Ollie]

Losing at a game can cause severe tourettes.

 

[94lt1]

Is that what causes that... Hmmm.