My Cart - For many years virtual reality has been a dream. Featured in movies and TV shows, this notion has evolved beyond a mere concept, as technology has advanced greatly in the last decade. The market for virtual reality is more than ready to receive it, and it seems like the entertainment industry will be transformed by it. We’re used to 3D in movies, which has already revolutionised the way we watch the screen, but with virtual reality we’re in for hyper-immersive content that will feel as if we’re there in the action.
The Virtual Reality of Before
We didn’t come up with the idea to create virtual reality just now. In fact, it can be said that the concept has been around since the 1950s, with the creation of the Sensorama, a machine designed to engage all senses by displaying 3D images and stereo sound, offering body tilting and releasing aromas through the movie – although it never progressed further than that. Maybe it wasn’t the right time. Again, another attempt was made in the 1990s, but the technology at the time didn’t live up with people’s expectations and people lost interest – especially because the Internet advanced, which seemed more attractive at the time.
But now it feels like the right time. While still not perfect, technology has evolved to a point that can live up to the hype surrounding virtual reality – meaning not only will people not be disappointed, they’ll also be able to enjoy VR in a way that seemed impossible just a few years ago.
The Giants of Virtual Reality
How can you tell that virtual reality will indeed become a thing of the near future? Big companies like Sony and Google are investing in this technology at a great pace, developing platforms that will allow people to experience VR. Samsung released the Gear VR in 2015 for £70, Sony is not far behind and Microsoft has already released the HoloLens for developers.
Another example is the Oculus Rift, perhaps the most famous name regarding virtual reality – the Oculus emerged in 2012 via Kickstarter, and now, in 2016, the first commercial versions will be released to the public. This platform is primarily associated with gaming, with many people having already experienced its immersive nature – mainly used to play horror games, since it creates the perfect atmosphere.
Soon it won’t be just the gaming industry. You’ll be able to sit down with your family and relax after a day of work by watching a movie, but the difference is that you will be the protagonist. You’ll be the one to enter the Matrix, fight the Empire or travel through Westeros – technology may not be there yet, but it won’t be long either.
Virtual reality seems much more feasible than before, and you can expect to be transported into new worlds with it, where your senses will tell you you’re no longer in your living room. By also developing other platforms alongside the VR devices, such as technology that allows you to walk around or run just like you would in a game, or even shoot a gun, virtual reality continues to progress.
