Next-generation Virtual Reality will change our lives, drastically. VR is already changing so much about they way we think about technology and its application to our daily lives. This is not just in the context of gaming - VR technology has already been seen creeping into all kinds of other industries, from corporate to medical to social networking, and everything in between (including cow farming). VR is changing the game, so to speak, and it’s damn exciting.
Humans Love To Be Immersed
Needless to say, the VR fad is gaining the traction it is because of its cool factor. It presents the possibility of fulfilling fantasies that a lot of us have undoubtedly held for as long as we can remember. That is, the desire to step into another world, to totally immerse ourselves in a realm that is different from our own familiar one.
We humans have been doing exactly this for as long as we have been telling and listening to stories, which is basically for as long as the ability to communicate meaningfully to others has been a thing. In other words, for a really long time. Whether its the kind offered by books, movies, visual arts, or video games, immersion within alternate realities can surely be considered one of the most sought-after human practices in existence.
VR Promises The Ultimate Immersion…
Then, VR entered the picture. Surprisingly, it actually entered the picture quite a while ago, being used - among other things - to assist people in brain injury recovery all the way back in the late 90s. As you might imagine, however, VR technology back then was probably not too convincingly realistic. Since then, it’s been a bumpy ride of high expectations and somewhat disappointing deliveries.
…But We’re Not Quite There Yet
Unfortunately, our long-standing dream of experiencing the kind of seamlessly immersive VR on par with Log Horizon or Sword Art Online could be a while away yet. Our current VR gaming tech is impressive to be sure, but there are still a whole lot of bumps in need of straightening out before we can perform any SAO-esque full dives.
So Where Are We Now?
Next-Gen VR Needs To Eradicate Cybersickness
Hand & Face Tracking, With Some 5G For Good Measure
There are a few other things on our Next-Gen Dream Checklist. Some of these things are very much in the pipelines, others already being introduced into the market. Earlier this month, the much-anticipated hand tracking software update was released for the Oculus Quest. The idea is to eliminate the need for handheld touch pads or consoles in VR, making the experience more intuitive by having players use their own hands to interact in the virtual world. And, amazingly, it works. Although it’s still very much in the experimental phase, with more fine-tuning this feature could change gaming forever.
Also in the (experimental) works is face tracking and 5G VR. In essence, by tapping into the mystical powers of 5G, the processing load within headsets themselves will be greatly reduced by, say, remotely rendering graphics. This in combination with more sophisticated face tracking (thanks to the addition of super sensitive cameras to track micro-expressions and such), the promise of crisper, more realistic VR experiences is becoming clearer than ever before.
The Next-Gen Dream…
…might not be a dream for much longer. Our childhood fantasies of literally exploring the incredible worlds we read about or see in movies and games are already being brought to life. Just imagine what the next few years will bring.
