Since its March 2016 release, the Oculus Rift has continually delivered high-value VR experience to its users globally. Whether embarking on a virtual tour with the 2017 Google street view, or going on a creative exploration using Educational Minecraft, or actively gaming with friends in Echo Arena, this is arguably one of the best VR headsets available globally.

Sadly, regardless of how fanciful, sleek or important a gameplay or VR experience is, no one loves the idea of placing a yucky and stinky Oculus Rift over their head. No! Never!!!

Although wearing the Rift is hyper-comfortable due to its foam paddings, the design team solved a problem by creating another. Oh, the stench! The problem created is so huge that whenever users consider wearing a friend’s VR headset or a headset at a public gaming spot, the thought of the stench, germs, and bacteria in the padding gives enough reasons for a second thought.

At the thought of avoiding such irritating experiences, various gamers and users who frequently sport these technological marvels often wonder how to clean their oculus rift padding. Additionally, when owners remember that cosmetic wear and tear are not covered by their warranty, they become more interested in cleaning their Rift padding.

Method 1. Wipe frequently

Since the padding comes in frequent direct contact with sweat, it is advisable to use moist non-abrasive anti-bacterial wipes to clean them. This would minimize the awful smell that could ooze embarrassingly from your Rift padding should little care be given. The use of abrasive solutions and alcohol during cleaning is greatly discouraged.

Method 2. Wash seldom

Should the above method prove ineffective in cleaning your Oculus Rift padding, you could carefully remove the padding from the Rift. After removing the padding from the rift, it should be washed, rinsed dried and replaced as brand new.

Given its foam rubber composition, it tends to absorb and retain sweat, which can become highly disgusting over time. Moreover, care should be taken to avoid excessively squeezing the padding during washing or rinsing as this could destroy its structural integrity over time and lead to a loss of its padding ability during VR gameplay. Also, ensure you use an antibacterial soap to wash the padding in order to kill off germs.

Method 3: Utilize a VR headset cover

In a bid to leverage the existing Oculus Rift Headset hygiene opportunity, various firms have released ideal VR headset covers that are perfect fits, comfortable to the head, easy to maintain and gentle on the wallets. Most of these VR covers are available on Amazon.

Avoid sweaty gaming experiences by using the above methods, however, should you be on a tight budget and still want to avoid these irritating experiences, opt for a comfortable headband. Cleaning your Oculus Rift never has to cost you an arm or an eye!

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The impact of millennials and digital technology has revolutionized the events industry in the last five years. The new focus of events now is to evolve beyond its preoccupation to integrate digital trends into the events space.

The approach to integrate new technologies will engage attendees in a multidisciplinary way, conjuring unique event experiences that have only existed in imaginations until now.

The emergence of digital technology within the events space has changed the way the event industry designs elements of the live event experience. It has transformed every aspect of the experience, from planning and production to execution. For industry experts, this means adapting to the new state of evolution while pioneering strategies and concepts.

This is no easy task, but the proliferation of new tech tools such as social media and additional realities; virtual and augmented has canvassed the event industry. This means new opportunities and challenges within the events space.

To fully understand how these technological changes are impacting the events space, here are three digital trends disrupting the events industry.

1.  The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things, or IoT, is the idea of connecting everyday tools to the Internet. This improves network connectivity (crucial for event management), while also creating a more efficient and data-driven network. The IoT landscape assists in all important aspects of the events industry, from presentation performance all the way down to potential attendees.

Using IoT for events bridges communication gaps to improve attendee engagement. iBeacon and RFID are two examples of IoT event technologies that assists attendee management. Both technologies allow leading event companies the ability to streamline attendee data, enabling them to keep a numerical track of guests, assisting them with location information, check-in assistance, and event schedule updates.

Such IoT event technologies minimizes the manual processes required to fill out physical sign-in sheets and information flyers, saving time and money for event organizers and sponsors alike.

2.  Shared Event Experiences

Audiovisual technology still remains a trendsetter within the events industry. The new trends in AV technology lie in the utilization of mixed reality (AR and VR) and live streaming. These two shared event experiences eliminate the barriers to entry for once-exclusive events, allowing non-physical attendees to engage with the event experience.

The adoption of live streaming through social networks such as Facebook Live and Instagram Stories affords guests the ability to tune into a live event despite geographical limitations.

Less than five years ago, runway shows were tailored to the invited guests. They were exclusive affairs for those who worked within the industry. Access was granted according to names on a guest list.

The advent of live streaming eliminated such barriers. Now, Fashion Week is an instantaneous and accessible experience, reaching audiences across the world. In 2015, while roughly 125,000 people attended the September shows, over 2.5 million live-streamed the event.

Advancements in virtual and augmented reality capabilities have established new concepts in how events are experienced. Sporting events such as the Rio Olympics has employed VR and AR to enable remote spectators to experience a deeper level of immersion than previously possible. Global conferences such as CES and MWC have also utilized VR and AR to enhance the live event experience.

Such technologies make the event experience incredibly democratic. This allows event organizers the ability to create a more personalized live event experience, enabling them to brand themselves to a broader audience in real-time.

3.  Event Interactivity

Another digital trend that events are tapping into is the sharing economy. On-demand services like Uber and Airbnb are empowering event organizers to use crowd-powered services to bolster event participation and engagement. Digital tools such as RFID cards and touch-screen displays increases engagement by providing hands-on experiences to specific, exclusive content.

The rise of artificial intelligence, as seen by Siri, Cortana, and Alexa, adds a boost to events, creating opportunities for personalization.

Event managers and organizers are employing a legion of AI assistants to serve as personal concierge, brand ambassadors, and even virtual event assistants. They are employed to help in all aspects of event management, from registration to budgeting. This enables event organizers to target different demographics according to their needs.

Delivering on more personalized interactions means better engagement from event participants, improving the attendee experience.

Digital technology is at the forefront of industry changes. The digitization of the events industry means changes, but more importantly, it means more opportunities. A deeper immersion experience leads to a deeper level of engagement. This leads to plenty of opportunities for brands to differentiate themselves from the competition, increasing their branding and improving the overall live event experience.