VR, AR, and the Future of Learning
Virtual Reality (VR) is an immersive simulation of a 3D environment. It will profoundly impact the way we work, learn and play, and raise potent ethical issues. Unlike augmented reality, the real world is completely replaced by the simulated environment. Virtual Reality requires additional technology which ranges from Smartphones and low-cost VR headsets (from Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR) to high-end systems such as Oculus Quest and Rift, the HTC Vive, and PlayStationVR. Content ranges from 360-degree photos and videos (though this is not fully VR) to deeply immersive geo-located environments with haptic feedback. VR Experiences with haptic feedback rely on gloves, vests, and full-body suits.
With the rapid advance of the technology supporting Virtual Reality, new standalone VR headsets are arriving – especially the new Oculus Quest which will ship in Spring 2019.
VR is creating fascinating opportunities for Education, Media, Storytelling, Journalism, Work and Retail environments. It is already beginning to transform entertainment and learning even though we are in the first steps of a long journey. In the end, it will impact society even more than the development of the graphical interface at the Xerox PARC labs in the 1970’s for computing.
The ethical issues raised by Virtual Reality are hard to identify now but the blurring of the boundary between the real and the virtual will create profound challenges. This is an area that both fascinates and concerns us at Digital Bodies.
A couple of interesting projects surfaced recently involving VR and cars. One is based on patents from the ride-sharing service Lyft, the other from Audi’s announcement at CES 2019. Both are fascinating for how they could redefine …
Read more VR and cars – are you ready to drive around in Virtual Reality?
If you thought Social VR was languishing in the shadows, take a look at Rec Room VR. They announced this week that the app is installed on over one million headsets. And in a blog post, …
As CES 2019 comes to a close, we take a look at TPCAST’s wireless solution for VR headsets. The Chinese company originally made HMDs such as the HTC Vive wireless. Their second generation product will stream VR …
Read more TPCAST: a wireless solution for VR headsets at CES 2019
The Cybershoes VR peripheral is an intriguing virtual reality enhancement at CES 2019. A device you strap on your shoes (one size fits all) and off you go. At least, virtually. You can walk, run, jump – …
Read more Cybershoes VR: stepping into virtual reality at CES 2019
A barrage of HTC Vive VR announcements kicked off the press briefings at CES 2019. We were expecting a new VR headset, but HTC gave us two headsets, a VR browser, a “Netflix for VR” subscription service, …
In a new a16z podcast, Marc Andreessen argues that VR will be bigger than AR. It’s a view we’ve long held – though we expect AR will grab the lion’s share of the market in the short term. …
Read more Marc Andreessen: VR will be “1,000” times bigger than AR
Happy New Year from Digital Bodies! Stay curious and imagine the possibilities! May it be a peaceful 2019! There will be many significant developments VR and AR in 2019. Expect to see standalone headsets, 5G, new …
As we reach the end of the year, it’s time to look back on our top ten VR and AR articles for 2018. We’ve wrapped up an incredible year of writing, travel, podcasts, and speaking engagements. …
We’re still working out a sense of touch and physical haptic feedback in virtual reality, but a long-term goal has always been the ability to smell in VR. And the Feelreal Kickstarter project promises to make that happen. Feelreal …