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Virtual Reality: What’s The Next Step?
The human race has always dreamt of the technology of the future, and nothing exemplifies this more than virtual reality. Back in the 1950s, when the Space Race was underway and the advancements of technology seemed boundless, it was not just flying cars and teleportation that our grandparents believed we’d have in the far-off time of the 21st century.
Of course, we may not have a life like The Jetsons now, but in many ways we have surpassed even the wildest expectations of those dreamers from half a century hence. Who could have imagined the internet, let alone that it would be in the palm of everyone’s hand?
One of the biggest jumps we’ve taken into the future these days is accessible and affordable virtual reality devices. True, they will still set you back hundreds of pounds, but the fact is that almost anyone can save up enough money to have their own slice of the future – a device that can almost literally transport you to another world.
Video gaming has been the biggest beneficiary of this new technology, with the two most popular virtual reality kits – the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift – syncing with high-end gaming computers to provide an unparalleled video game experience. However, you would be naïve to think that this technology will only be used by gamers going forward.
Oculus Rift, which is owned by Facebook, has said that they believe that the social sphere will be the biggest use of virtual reality going forward. It makes a lot of sense when you consider how pervasive social media is in day-to-day life these days; one actually has to go out of the way to avoid having a social media presence. Being online and public is now the default setting for modern life.
The integration of social media into other aspects of life is no longer uncommon. Take for example online casinos in the UK, which in part are successful - for those old enough to participate - because they allow casino players to enjoy the real money games without having to leave their house. These sites now all offer a “Live Dealer” experience in which you interact with other players and real-life dealers over webcam while playing online. If this anti-social hobby is becoming social, imagine what else might be?
Indeed, social aspects are being introduced to many online experiences such as online shopping and games. As virtual reality technology moves forward, and the distinction between virtual reality and actual reality becomes harder and harder to find, one can only imagine just how social this social media will become!
All in all, we are lucky to be around at an extremely exciting time with the growth of the internet and virtual reality technology occurring simultaneously, bringing us to exciting and unknown new possibilities.
Brett James
