VRTK_SimplePointer

extends VRTK_WorldPointer

Overview

The Simple Pointer emits a coloured beam from the end of the controller to simulate a laser beam. It can be useful for pointing to objects within a scene and it can also determine the object it is pointing at and the distance the object is from the controller the beam is being emitted from.

The laser beam is activated by default by pressing the Touchpad on the controller. The event it is listening for is the AliasPointer events so the pointer toggle button can be set by changing the Pointer Toggle button on the VRTK_ControllerEvents script parameters.

The Simple Pointer script can be attached to a Controller object within the [CameraRig] prefab and the Controller object also requires the VRTK_ControllerEvents script to be attached as it uses this for listening to the controller button events for enabling and disabling the beam. It is also possible to attach the Simple Pointer script to another object (like the [CameraRig]/Camera (head)) to enable other objects to project the beam. The controller parameter must be entered with the desired controller to toggle the beam if this is the case.

Inspector Parameters

• Pointer Thickness: The thickness and length of the beam can also be set on the script as well as the ability to toggle the sphere beam tip that is displayed at the end of the beam (to represent a cursor).
• Pointer Length: The distance the beam will project before stopping.
• Show Pointer Tip: Toggle whether the cursor is shown on the end of the pointer beam.
• Custom Pointer Cursor: A custom Game Object can be applied here to use instead of the default sphere for the pointer cursor.
• Layers To Ignore: The layers to ignore when raycasting.

Example

VRTK/Examples/003_Controller_SimplePointer shows the simple pointer in action and code examples of how the events are utilised and listened to can be viewed in the script VRTK/Examples/Resources/Scripts/VRTK_ControllerPointerEvents_ListenerExample.cs