Oculus Rift – More Than Just a Virtual Reality Gaming Device

Oculus-Rift

There’s no denying that one of the top drivers for innovation is entertainment. When the Nintendo Wii first came onto the market in 2006, it literally changed the video game landscape transitioning from sedentary systems to a physical one. Xbox and PlayStation quickly followed suit with their Kinect and Move peripherals.

Then came Oculus Rift. While primarily designed for gaming, the virtual reality kit has a few other practical uses that you may not have considered – but Make Use Of has, and some of them may surprise you – more on that in a minute.

First, did you know that 3D viewing has been around for some time? About 170 years actually, when inventor Sir David Brewster developed the kaleidoscope, then the stereoscope and began taking 3D photographs.[1] Fast-forward about 75 years and through different advancements in technology, we then see the creation of the Kinematoscope, a stereo animation camera. The entertainment possibilities opened up which then led to the first 3D movie, The Power of Love released in 1922. Entertainment fans have been riveted ever since.

Virtual Reality, when compared to 3D technology, is just a baby. Its origins begin in the 1960s when Morton Heilig, a cinematographer, built a single console called Sensorama as a means of creating a theater experience to stimulate all the senses. Sensorama included stereo speakers, odor emitters, a chair and a stereoscopic display allowing its user to watch TV in 3D.[2]

Fast-forward again to 2012 when Oculus Rift came on the scene as a Kickstarter project and quickly garnered attention as a product to watch. Lines at shows like the Electronic Entertainment Expo and Game Developer’s Conference were as long as an amusement park on a warm, summer’s day to see what was expected to be the next evolution in VR technology. Oculus Rift’s acquisition by Facebook was an interesting development because many wondered what application the social media giant would do in the VR space.

After games, we’re going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences. Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face — just by putting on goggles in your home.” – Mark Zuckerberg, CEO – Facebook

This statement alone confirms the article from Make Use Of about other practical, non-gaming uses for Oculus Rift in areas such as education, travel, medicine, or architecture

Like Mr. Zuckerberg said, imagine a world where you can access anything or anywhere virtually, when you otherwise couldn’t due to physical, financial or other limitations. Imagine climbing Mt. Fuji from the comfort of your living room or learning another language from your kitchen table. Gaming is fun, but Oculus Rift can make virtual reality so much more than just entertainment.

Still in development, Oculus Rift has the opportunity to really change how we see and interact with the world and one another. If this device can remain affordable for a mass market, the benefits of its application will only be limited by our imagination.

 

 



[1] Source: VisionNW

2015-04-14T22:37:05+00:00

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