Is Virtual Reality the Future of Interactive Media?

"Artist's imagining of Minecraft on HoloLens" by Microsoft Sweden is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Technology is something that has changed the way humans have lived their lives throughout history. From moving at high speeds using cars and trains to being able to contact people around the world with telephones and the internet; these are things that were invented using human ingenuity and have changed the way we live out our day-to-day lives. Now with virtual reality, people will be able to fully experience both the world they live in and man-made virtual worlds in new ways that are both innovative and enticing. Could virtual reality be the next big technological advancement of the future?

The Virtual Reality Rush

"Samsung Gear VR" by Maurizio Pesce is licensed under CC BY 2.0

"A Google Glass with black frame for prescription lens." by Mikepanhu is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

The creation of the Oculus Rift in 2012 is what started making virtual reality a possibility for the first time in 15 years. Due to its promising demand from the public, Sony and Valve started working on their own virtual reality headsets around the time of 2014. Google released the Google Glass in 2013 as an optical head-mounted display, and then in 2014 the Google Cardboard was released as a cheap way to experienced VR and could be used with smartphones. Just like with the Oculus Rift, other companies such as Samsung and LG hurried to release their own versions of phone compatible VR headsets. Also, in 2015 the Microsoft HoloLens was announced and the development edition was released on the 30^th March this year. The short interval of time between the developments of all these platforms shows that with the discovery of the Oculus Rift’s popularity, many other large media industries saw the potential that developing virtual reality could have on consumers and society; creating a rush to create the most effective system. These turn of events are what spun these large media development companies into action; and many speculate that 2016 is ‘The Year of Virtual Reality’.

The Oculus Rift’s Virtual Reality Simulations

"New Oculus Rift Now Available for Developers" by BagoGames is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Imagine a device that can project a world created entirely someone’s imagination. A world where you can see and hear what around you as if you were a part of that world, where a turn of the head could lead to a new discovery. Virtual reality technology is something that has managed to provide an experience where a person can immerse themselves into limitless amounts of new worlds, with limitless possibilities. With consoles such as the Oculus Rift, the gaming industry can reach new heights which had only been a dream for gamers before. Game designers can now focus on ways for players to interact with their environments as if they were a part of them, increasing the value of interactivity in games and enticing players with exploration and story elements.

However, if you think about virtual reality simulation outside of gaming, it has its many uses such as helping with mental health, education and military training. The Oculus Rift has already proven to be successful on these fronts and as newer software gets developed and more areas are explored, virtual reality simulations will contribute to the advancement of many of the crucial industries of the world.

Holograms with the HoloLens

"HoloLens" by Microsoft Sweden is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Out of all these systems, the one which appears to have the most potential is the Microsoft HoloLens. The HoloLens is a headset which projects holograms into the real world and allows users to see and interact with them through their operating system; Windows Holographic. The reason why I believe the HoloLens has the most potential out of all of the VR headsets that have been developed is because of the way that virtual reality is represented. The ability to see holograms in the real world creates limitless possibilities in terms of what can be created and the way it is represented. Industries such as engineering, graphic design, education, medication, architecture, space exploration and more can benefit greatly though seeing holograms and the HoloLens’ capability to work over long distances.

Here is a video that can give you a better perspective of what the HoloLens can do:

"Microsoft HoloLens Live Demo Build 2015" by videogamesfrontTV is licensed under CC BY 3.0

There is not telling what the future will bring; and it is always pleasantly surprising to see how new technologies such as virtual reality gets invented and perfected, and to see all the innovative ideas that people come up with though the use of new technology.  My belief is that in the near future, the world as we know it will change with the implementation of virtual reality technology, changing the way we think, learn and perceive people and the world around us.