What those games and apps encompass is further proof of the Go's particular mission. When Oculus first unveiled the device last year, its "welcome, casual users!" messaging was already in place in an introductory blog post: "It’s awesome for watching movies or concerts, playing games, or just hanging out with your friends in VR." Each of those is represented in a different part of the headset's launch-window rollout. Oculus TV lets users bring their streaming apps into VR and watch them together; Netflix and Hulu already made popular apps for the company, but they'll be joined by Showtime and others, with ESPN+ coming to the platform later this year. Oculus Venues does the same for comedy shows, sporting events, concerts, and other live spectacles.

Or is it none of those? What if what VR needs to finally vault out of the realm of the curio and into wide usage isn’t lightness or power, but convenience? Something self-contained, with all the necessary processing and sensors and display components built in so you don't need to slap your phone into it or connect it to a PC or game console—but also wireless, so you can throw it in your bag and use it anywhere? Something with an on/off switch that just powers up and works? Something that you can easily remove and hand to a friend?

Oculus Govs Quest 2

The Go continues that tradition. It’s not quite as friendly looking as the Rift—its featureless gray plastic feels like Kafka Moderne, which the iridescent gray faceplate and gray fabric strap do little to dispel—but finds its way onto your face quickly, thanks to a quick and flawless setup process. (While the Rift’s setup process was clear enough, most users by now are familiar with the woes of an ill-timed GPU update or a seemingly random USB port failure.) Its initial power-up also broaches not-quite-standalone territory; you’ll need Oculus’ smartphone app to set up the headset, as well as to connect the Go to any wireless network for the first time.

Unlike all other force options, the TASER energy device records event logs for every user action, including safety activation and trigger event duration with times and dates. Pulse logs also display an objective pulse-by-pulse record of delivered electrical output. This information is recorded for safety and objective accountability. TASER logs can be ingested into Axon Evidence and linked to evidence files and BWV footage to create a more comprehensive view of an incident for investigation purposes.

But while you'll find lots to do and see, the Go offers precious little of the deep social experiences have captivated PC VR users. The Go's best new games, like Anshar Online and tabletop title Catan VR, offer networked play, but its dedicated social offerings are limited to relatively lightweight apps like vTime and Altspace. "Hanging out with your friends" seems to refer only to Oculus TV and the company's Rooms app, which lets you share a space with your existing FWH (friends with headsets). With the Go, sharing is meant for people outside the headset. You can take photos and record videos from inside the headset, even livestream your VR, and you can post all of it—you'd just better want it on Facebook, because as of now that's the only place you can post it.

“TASER [energy devices] undoubtedly provid[e] safer outcomes for police, the public – and the subject,” comments Superintendent Chris Scahill, National Manager of Police Response and Operation, New Zealand [6]. In fact, zero subject injuries were recorded from 212 uses of TASER energy devices in a New Zealand study [7].

TASER energy devices use electrical current to induce neuromuscular incapacitation. When a TASER energy device is deployed at a distance, 2 probes are released from the weapon. When both of these probes enter a subject, a circuit is created. Basically, we send a signal to all the muscles in between the 2 probes telling them to flex. For these few seconds, the subject is not controlling these muscles, and thus they become immobilised. This is the same technology you see in off-the-shelf muscle stimulators used for rehab and muscle therapy.

A: When a TASER energy device is deployed, 2 probes are released from the weapon at a pre-determined angle. When these probes make contact with a subject, the area between the 2 probes will receive the signal to flex.

So, the closer you deploy a TASER energy device to a subject, the less distance there will be between the probes. This means there is less muscle mass to stimulate, generally resulting in lower NMI. It is recommended that the probes be at least 12 inches apart to have the greatest potential for NMI. Different TASER energy devices deploy probes at different angles.

No, in many cases, drawing and displaying a TASER energy device without an actual deployment is sufficient to safely resolve a situation. A UK police study showed that in 81% of cases, simply displaying a TASER energy device was enough to gain compliance from a subject and de-escalate the incident [8]. The figures rose to 88% of subjects surrendering after a TASER was displayed in Finland [9] and 93% in Ontario, Canada [10]. This intervening step helps offer a layer of protection in dangerous situations to de-escalate. “It can be seen that the use of the TASER [energy device] prevented police officers from having to use more force on dozens of occasions,” noted a report on pilot deployments in Central, East, and North Netherlands, as well as Rotterdam, the Netherlands [11].

That Facebook-centrism, while understandable given Oculus' parent company, still remains one of the Go's two glaring issues. The other is that like the Gear VR, it only tracks your rotations, not your motion in three-dimensional space. You can spin and nod and tilt to your heart's content, but being confined to so-called "three degrees of freedom" means that you can't lean over to inspect something more closely, or duck out of the way of an incoming virtual object. And since the same goes for its single controller, it also means that you can't bring your hands into VR for natural gestural controls. Instead, the controller functions like a glorified laser pointer—good for at what it does, just not transformative. (I'll pause here to give lobbyists from Big Laser Pointer a chance to flood my mentions.)

Oculus goprice

Front-line police deserve to be protected by equipment that not only protects them, but the public too. This was the vision behind TASER energy devices, less-lethal devices that were designed and created to make the world a safer place. With over 850 reports, abstracts, letters, studies, and resource materials, and more than 5 million field deployments in nearly 30 years, TASER energy devices are proven to be the most safe and effective less-lethal tool on an officer’s belt.

A: TASER energy devices are designed to temporarily incapacitate a subject only as long as the electrical cycle, meaning the subject can recover immediately and most feel no residual side-effects. There are no known long-term effects from being exposed to a TASER energy device. This is significant given that there are more than 850 reports, abstracts, studies and reference materials on TASER energy devices, in addition to approximately 5 million field deployments over 25 years.

A: TASER energy devices are designed to incapacitate a subject long enough for law enforcement to secure the subject or for civilians to begin to move away from aggressors. However, TASER energy devices can be used on a single subject for longer than the initial 5-second cycle where justified. A user can deploy a back-up cartridge to maximise probe spread and improve NMI effectiveness, or re-energise probes that have already made a successful connection when compliance is not yet achieved. Either scenario would incapacitate a subject for another electrical cycle or for as long as probes are re-energised. It is therefore imperative for both public safety and civilians to be trained on TASER best practices and follow any agency or state policies and laws that that guide TASER energy device use.

A: Less than 2,000 volts of electricity typically flow into a subject when a TASER energy device makes a connection. And this electricity flows at a very low current, in a precise waveform, which is why TASER energy devices are tested and proven to have a reliable cardiac safety profile.

However when compared to these other devices, Oculus and Facebook’s gamble becomes clear: this isn’t a full-court press, it’s an undercut. With a cost (and capability) markedly less than its competitors’, the Oculus Go isn’t trying to blow anyone out of the water—it’s trying to cajole you into seeing VR as easy, affordable, magical entertainment.

Oculus Go2

A: Pepper spray, or OC spray, works by spraying a chemical compound, causing temporary blindness. This spray effects the eyes, ears, nose, and throat and can cause burning and itchy eyes for a full 24 hours after exposure. In contrast, TASER energy device exposures are typically over in about 5 seconds and are not designed to result in lingering immobility or pain. However, exposure to a TASER energy device can be painful for individuals during that brief electrical cycle, so an exposure to a TASER energy device should be treated seriously. After exposure to a TASER energy device, it is recommended a subject be monitored for 20 minutes to ensure they are feeling well.

In fact, a single Christmas tree light bulb outputs more than 100 times more current than TASER energy devices. (Light bulb = 156mA, X2/X26P = 1.2 mA, TASER 7 = 1.4 mA)

Q: Ok so voltage isn’t as dangerous as current, but still, how many volts of electricity does a TASER energy device deliver?

A: No, TASER energy devices do not electrocute subjects. TASER energy devices use electrical current to temporarily incapacitate subjects by inducing neuromuscular incapacitation, or NMI. NMI is simple. Basically, TASER energy devices send a signal to your muscles telling them to flex. This is the same technology you see in off-the-shelf muscle stimulators used for rehab and muscle therapy. The amount of current actually delivered in this signal is extremely low, far below the amount needed to electrocute someone.

That’s the thinking behind so-called “standalone” headsets, which ditch cables and satellite devices in favor of ease of use. The Oculus Go, which goes on sale today starting at $199, is the first of its category, though not the last. Lenovo’s Mirage Solo, which works on Google’s Daydream virtual reality platform, is available on Friday starting at $399, with other standalones following later this year.

TASER energy devices offer a less-lethal, intermediate force option in dangerous situations. Proven to be safer than other uses of force, including firearms, baton strikes, punches, and kicks [see graph below], TASER energy devices give officers a reliable tool on their belt. In Orlando, Florida, police found a 50% decrease in attacks on officers after the introduction of TASER energy devices [1], and Queensland Police Service in Australia found a 40% reduction in officer assaults following the introduction of TASER energy devices [2].

Oculus goapp

Note that some TASER energy devices can be used in both drive-stun and probe mode, but probe mode is preferred because it is much more effective in stopping a threat.

TASER, TASER 7, X2, X26P, Bolt 2, Pulse and Pulse+ are trademarks of Axon Enterprise, Inc., some of which are registered in the United States and other countries. For more information, visit axon.com/legal. All rights reserved. © 2023 Axon Enterprise, Inc

The first thing you notice when you turn on the Go and select a home environment—a 360-degree photo that serves as backdrop for the rest of the user menus—is "wow that display looks good." It's not just better than a Samsung phone looks in a Gear VR; it's better than the Rift's display as well. Part of that is the display itself: Rather than utilize the same OLED screens as the Rift, the Go employs a fast-switch LCD, which helps fill in the spaces between the pixels a bit and mitigates the famed/dreaded "screen door effect." There's also a new generation of the Fresnel lenses that the Rift used, with Oculus claiming that the new lenses reduce "god rays," the light dispersion effect that can occur in high-contrast scenes. And in my week of testing, I wasn't bothered by either phenomenon—though using the Go with my back to a window on a bright day did allow light to leak in. So ... don't do that.

Oculus Go64GB

Oculus gogames

Are there ways of ensuring that a TASER energy device deployment is captured on body-worn video (BWV) camera for greater transparency? Can you track TASER energy device usage?

“Officers deserve the protection it [TASER] affords them,” says Simon Chesterman, the Armed Policing Lead for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in the UK [3].

TASER technology is one of the most studied, safe and effective means of quickly stopping a threat. So, why are there so many misconceptions and myths around TASER energy devices? As with most topics shrouded in mystery, the misconceptions stem from a lack of understanding.

Likewise, TASER energy devices result in safer outcomes for subjects as well. Seattle Police Department in the United States reported a 48% reduction in suspect injury in use of force incidents following the introduction of TASER energy devices [4]. In France, there was a 15% decrease in lethal force firearm usage against suspects in volatile situations [5].

TASER energy devices are designed for safety, effectiveness, objective accountability and performance. As deploying a TASER energy device constitutes a use of force, documentation is important to assess proper usage. With Signal technology enabled, drawing a TASER energy device sends an alert to an Axon body-worn video camera to start recording to ensure the incident is captured.

Oculus Gocontroller

Let’s look at some of the most frequently asked questions related to TASER energy devices and better understand a less-lethal technology that has been integral in saving more than 275,000 lives from death or serious bodily injury.

A: Contrary to popular belief, what makes electricity dangerous to humans doesn’t have much to do with voltage, but rather with current. When voltage passes through an object or subject at a very high current, that can be dangerous. TASER energy devices use a relatively low current, which provides a reliable safety profile and allows them to be classified as less-lethal weapons.

After a quick tutorial on how to use the single bundled hand controller, the Go sets you free to explore and install any apps or games that catch your eye. All Gear VR titles are compatible with the Go; that means more than 1,000 are available in the Oculus Store on day one, with more than 100 that are either brand new or, in Oculus' words, "substantially improved." How many you can fit into the 32GB version of the Go remains to be seen—titles range from less than 100MB up to more than a gig, but there's no way to check your storage at a glance. According to an Oculus spokesperson, users will get a notification in the headset when their free space dips below 2GB, and then again at 500MB. (Don't worry; I have 27 things installed at the moment, and I'm still notification-free. If you can't live without downloading multiple movies, though, your fileage may vary.)

A: No, TASER energy devices and stun guns are not the same. With the average stun gun, the weapon works by inflicting localized pain to discourage a particular behavior. The weapon is turned on and driven into an attacker (drive-stun), allowing electricity to travel through their outer layer of skin and deliver a sharp pain for as long as the weapon is held in contact with the exposed area.

While there’s a headphone jack near the micro-USB charging port on the headset’s left side, speakers embedded in the headset direct sound toward your ear. It's audible, if not clearly so, to people nearby, and it’s not as immersive as the Rift’s fold-down headphones, but it works better than you’d think—and certainly removes one of the most annoying parts about taking off a headset for someone else to try. (Raise your hand if you’ve ever gone full Tommy-Davidson-in-Booty-Call with a headphone cable while in VR.)

What's the first truly mainstream virtual-reality device? Is it the first one that millions of people can get for free or close to it, like the Google Cardboard? Is it the one with the first glimmer of name recognition, like the Oculus Rift? Is it the one that can run off a smartphone people already have, like the Daydream View (Google Pixel) or the Samsung Gear VR (Samsung Note)? Is it the one that gives the brawniest in-home experience at the brawniest price point, like the HTC Vive Pro?

Whether the Go is the device that's finally going to rocket VR out of early-adopter orbit and make it a mass technology remains to be seen. Oculus has a more ambitious, fully-tracked standalone device in the works; "Santa Cruz," as the prototype is known, gets much closer to the performance of a first-generation PC-connected VR headset like the Rift, including full positional tracking. But Santa Cruz has no date, and the Go is here now. It's comfortable, it boasts a huge software library, and it comes from a company that has polished its user experience to a fine sheen. And at a shade less than $200, it's as damn fine a stopgap as you can imagine.

A: Most TASER energy devices have a 5-year recommended useful life. When a TASER energy device is deployed, the used cartridge is discarded, but the TASER energy device can be reloaded with a new cartridge and deployed again.

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*Kroll, M.W., Brave, M.A., Pratt, H.M.O. et al. Benefits, Risks and Myths of TASER Handheld Electrical Weapons. Hum Factors Mech Eng Def Saf 3, 7 (2019).

Of the major VR manufacturers, Oculus more than any understands the power of retail design. Unboxing the Rift felt like opening an Apple device—solid material, inventive closures, any cables and adapters nestled smartly and surreptitiously in their surroundings. The headset itself was designed with intuitive comfort in mind, as were its controllers. This was a product that not only looked good, it felt good.

Oculus Gostore

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A: TASER energy devices work by circulating electrical current through a subject, causing temporary immobility. However, the level of current delivered is actually quite low, well below the level necessary to interfere with a pacemaker. In fact, pacemakers are required by regulation to withstand an AED shock, which has thousands of times more energy than a TASER energy devices. So no, TASER energy devices will not stop a pacemaker.*

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At just over a pound—my kitchen scale clocked it at 16.7 ounces—the Go is lighter than a phone-laden Gear VR, and far more comfortable: its “facial interface” liner is cushier, and its top strap keeps it so stably on your head that I was able to loosen the side straps enough to avoid the telltale raccoon marks around my eyes and cheeks. An included extra spacer can be placed between the facial liner and the headset to create room for eyeglasses, something I appreciated early mornings and late nights, before I'd put my contacts in. There's one significant design demerit, though: The top strap anchors to rest of the strap only by a smallish bit of velcro, which has an annoying habit of pulling away when I put the headset on.

Yet, it's all in perfect keeping with the device's strategy. The Go is meant to be simple, and it's meant to be inexpensive. But most importantly, it's meant to be immersive while still being easy. Easy equals fun, which equals customers, which equals the continued growth of VR—an important consideration for the company that's arguably sunken more money into the technology than any other.

Furthermore, law enforcement and professional TASER energy device models released after 2011 are designed on an all-digital platform, allowing the energy weapon to provide objective analytics of use.