VR / Monitor Modes
Ovation can be used with virtual reality headsets (VR Mode) and computer monitors (Monitor Mode).
Differences At a Glance
Experience
Fully immersive—you’re inside the virtual room with lifelike eye contact and spatial audio.
Same environments and avatars as VR Mode, but viewed on your PC screen like a “window” into the room.
Looking
Turn your head to change your view.
Move the mouse to look around.
Moving
Walk in the real world within your safe play area.
Use keyboard keys to walk.
Training
Available—based on your words spoken into the microphone, and to a lesser degree, where your headset is pointed and what your hands are doing.
Limited—only evaluates your spoken words. Webcam is not used.
VR Mode versus Monitor Mode
Immersion
VR Mode makes you feel physically present. Avatars can make eye contact and speak with you. You see your virtual hands and interact naturally with microphones, notecards, and other objects. Spatial (directional) audio helps you tell who is speaking.
Monitor Mode shows the same scene as VR Mode. You get the same content and audio, just framed on a monitor instead of surrounding you.
Interaction
Looking around
VR Mode: Turning your head changes your view.
Monitor Mode: Move your mouse to look.
Moving around
VR Mode: Walk within your real-world play area to move in VR.
Monitor Mode: Use your keyboard to walk.
Using objects
VR Mode: Your hands or controllers are tracked, so you can grab a marker to draw, lift a microphone to your mouth, and gesture while speaking.
Monitor Mode: Most actions are a simple mouse click.
Training
Gaze (where you look)
VR Mode: Available—measured by your headset’s direction.
Monitor Mode: Not available (Monitor Mode doesn’t use your webcam).
Voice (what you say and how you say it)
Both modes: Speech is analyzed the same way.
Exception: Mic Distance training (keeping a handheld microphone near your mouth) is VR-only.
Hands (your gestures)
VR Mode: Available—based on hand/controller tracking.
Monitor Mode: Not available (no webcam).
Launching Ovation
VR Mode
Install Ovation from the Meta App Store.
Put on your headset and open Ovation from your Meta App Library.
Using an MDM (ArborXR, ManageXR, or Meta for Education)? See your MDM’s docs for launch steps.
Monitor Mode
Sign in to your Ovation account and go to Downloads to install.
By default, launch from:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Ovation\Ovation.exe
Which should I choose?
Pick VR Mode if you want maximum realism and natural interaction. Simulating public speaking or speaking in social situations in a safe, virtual space can also benefit those who suffer from fear of public speaking. Explore the research here.
Pick Monitor Mode if you’re on a Windows PC without a headset and want easy access to speaking with AI avatars and feedback on what you say.
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