Whether you admit it or not, Virtual Reality (VR) is now becoming a bigger part of the future, and it will become even more significant as we move further into the 21st century.
Are you ready for the future?
VR has been around as early as the 1980s, but people dismissed it as nothing more than a fad—a niche interest reserved for gamers and enthusiasts. In the succeeding decades, however, the public finally embraced digitization and realized VR’s full potential.
With Facebook’s rebranding to Meta, and the unveiling of their plans to explore the so-called Metaverse, a spotlight has now shone on the once ignored VR system. Add in the fact that the Internet is now ubiquitous for society, and tech companies are hell-bent on outdoing each other for better responsiveness and display quality to make virtual reality more of a, well, reality.
The public is now more open to the idea of digital migration, and skepticism about this trend has continued to decline. In less than a decade, owning a VR headset has become as common as owning a laptop; not everyone has one, but there’s nothing special to owning one.
That said, here are some of the things to watch out for in virtual reality!
Increased connectivity
Throughout the years, gamers and computer enthusiasts have been stereotyped as anti-social—introverts who find greater joy in exploring the possibilities of their hardware and cyberspace over socializing and enjoying whatever the outdoors have to offer. All that’s about to change, especially with the increased connectivity brought by software becoming more collaboration-oriented. Soon, we may just find virtual space to be a more convenient way to play and simply have “coffee” with friends and family living on the opposite side of the planet.
Improved user interface
From Steam Official Website
It’s understandable for some to reject VR for its complexities, especially given that you’ll have to wear an unfamiliar headset that—more importantly—alters your entire perception. In recent years, though, developers have worked to address these problems by making the experience more user-friendly and eliminating any overwhelming doubt. Innovative controllers can now respond to commands given through finger movement such as Valve’s Index Controllers. Some companies have even developed powerful cameras that can track user movement!
5G and cloud technology
The demand for Internet connectivity has greatly increased through the years, specifically in terms of speed, reach, and memory, and PLDT Home Broadband continues to lead in this space as the fastest home broadband in the Philippines. VR has also taken advantage of the latest technologies, especially 5G and cloud technology to improve both performance and marketability.
Haptic gloves
From HaptX Official Website
Going into a more specific territory, Meta has been leading the charge into VR lately. One of the things the company is focusing on in the Metaverse is the issue of system responsiveness. In virtual reality, the virtual becomes a misnomer if users don’t have complete control of their VR counterparts—an issue that haptic gloves will solve.
The first-ever controller follows commands based on finger and hand movement, not just based on button presses. It provides realistic touch for VR users, and its high-tech design enables strong feedback and accurate motion tracking. It’s also designed to provide users with flexibility and complete mobility whenever they enter cyberspace. If you’ve seen Ready Player One before, you’d know what we’re talking about! Check out these haptic gloves from Seattle-based hardware company Haptx.
NFTs
Once fully realized, the digital world will have its own economy. NFTs, short for non-fungible tokens, are already part of the digital vernacular. Along with cryptocurrencies, they will soon become integral in VR and the Metaverse.
The years of holding onto NFT and crypto that investors have endured will soon pay off once the digital world’s economy becomes solidified and predictions of these becoming official digital currencies will become a reality.
Fashion disruption
Fashion designers may soon get a glimpse of how their designs will look on models even before they sew the first seam. Just like software giving a real-time, firsthand look at architectural and art designs, fashion designers may soon enjoy the same digital privilege, too.
London-based designer Scarlett Yang did exactly that in 2020 when the pandemic prevented person-to-person contact. The produced design even looks futuristic, made from algae extracts and silk cocoon protein to produce a glass-like fabric.
More VR workout games
Since the pandemic, the lockdowns have caused governments to close down gyms and prevent direct workout coaching. This became an opportunity for VR to showcase what it could do, as workout games suddenly became a popular choice.
Even though gyms and training centers are now returning on-site, those who prefer to sweat it out at home will find a better option in their VR headsets. Just as the world embraces digital migration and disruptions, we can expect more VR workout games with better quality and content.
Playstation VR 2 System
From PlayStation Official Website
Sony is marketing the PlayStation VR 2 System as the next generation of virtual reality gaming. It features a 4K resolution display, headset feedback, and a specialized controller to elevate the usual gaming experience. A first in the industry, PS VR2 features an eye-tracking system for heightened emotional response and more interactions. Just imagine the possibilities!