Are you interested in borrowing VR goggles, or buying them? Both are viable options, so you should choose what makes the best sense for your agency.
Where to borrow goggles
Through the Attorney General’s Office, OPOTA bought 160 VR headsets. They were distributed to OPOTA’s six Close to Home regional training partners and to academies run by the Highway Patrol and by police departments in Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo.
OPOTA and its Tactical Training Center, both in London, have headsets for in-house training, and OPOTA has set aside an additional supply to lend to agencies that request them. With such widespread distribution, all 900 law enforcement agencies in Ohio have access to VR training.
With such widespread distribution, all 900 law enforcement agencies in Ohio have access to VR training.
Where to buy goggles
Many law enforcement agencies have opted to purchase their own VR headsets for internal training, as OPOTA will upload the VR scenarios free to agency-owned devices.
There are a variety of locations where the hardware can be purchased, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and gaming stores. (NOTE: These retailers are provided as examples, not recommendations.)
The following specifications are required for OPOTA to upload the scenarios to agency devices:
- Meta Quest 3 VR Headset: Currently available only in a version that contains 512 GB of onboard storage.
- Gaming Headphones: Used for sound isolation. Currently recommending the Logitech G Pro X Wired Gaming Headset.
- Meta Quest 3 Silicone Facial Interface: The part of the headset that rests on your face, with a facial interface (included) that is made of cloth; this silicone facial interface is easier to clean between users.
- Meta Quest 3 Carrying Case: Numerous options available.
- Rechargeable AA Batteries: The Meta Quest 3 headset is rechargeable, but the two hand controllers use one AA battery each. Because the devices use the batteries quickly, various rechargeable battery solutions are recommended.
- Various wall chargers: For faster headset charging.
- Cables: To simplify and speed up headset recharging.
- Software options:
- Retail Mode: Headsets without MDM software. No cost.
- Meta for Work: $14.99 per headset per month subscription service from Meta, paid monthly to Meta.
- Meta for Work Shared Mode Update: An additional $8.99 per headset per month, paid
monthly to Meta.
- Arbor XR MDM Software: $96 per year per headset; must use OPOTA-contracted vendor. Contact OPOTA for information.
Agency VR instructors should contact OPOTA to make arrangements for VR video uploading at a nearby regional provider in the Attorney General’s OPOTA Close to Home program.
Questions about VR equipment and scenarios should be directed to OPOTAVR@ohioago.gov.