Virtual Reality is all set to become a big business in the coming years. The sector is predicted to balloon in the coming years, as the new headset technology, games, and the content all hit the market. The VR enthusiasts already have a ranging number of options whether it be the HTC’s high end, the PC tethered Vive headset, Samsung Galaxy smartphone-compatible Gear VR, Facebook Oculus Rift headsets to even various LED TV. The launch of Sony’s PlayStation VR headset has already raised the bars much higher. Moreover, the Google Daydream – a mobile VR platform that encompasses smartphones and is a reference design for a headset and controller as well as apps.
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual Reality is the creation of a simulated environment using computer technology. Unlike the tradition user interfaces, the VR places the user inside an experience. Rather than viewing the screen in front of you, you will be immersed and be able to interact with the 3D worlds. By stimulating the senses of the users, such as vision, touch, hearing and even smell, the computer is transformed into a gatekeeper to the artificial world. The only limits to the near-real VR experiences are the availability of the content and the cheap computing power, which can become a barrier in providing you the immersive experience.
Now VR television is finally here. There has been long hype for the technology, which now has become a reality. VR has seen tremendous growth over the past few years and it is all set to become the future of the TV. There has been an increase in the annual shipments of the VR headsets and the worldwide revenues for the virtual as well as augmented reality are forecast to reach $162 billion in 2020. The researchers have predicted that by 2025, VR will have a global user base of even more than 275 million people.
Broadcasters Onboard
The companies that are working on providing for immersive, 360°, stereo video experiences are getting the support from high profile investors that includes Sky and Disney. The VR technology will be capturing, creating, rendering and distributing content to the audience like never before. Big companies that include ABC News and film studios have started working on creating VR content that can be made available to the audience.
Many believe that VR is the first entertainment medium that is native to the smartphones and hence the broadcasters, operators and the content makers are seeing such a huge potential in VR as a platform. Many are calling it to be the IMAX-like experience in just your pocket.
Defined Experience
The launch of the PlayStation VR is going to change the game for a lot of gamers. It will play a very important role in the uptake of the virtual reality that has an existing base of more than 40 million PS4 consoles. Not just for games, but the VR set has been tested otherwise too and the people seemed to have loved it. They want to experience the content that they love in a way that they have never experienced before.
The experience will be more defined with the VR content and it will be targeted towards the broader audience. In fact, virtual tourism is also getting its grip and in the coming years, developers will be able to provide for tourist modes within the games that will allow the players to pause from the action and take virtual vistas.
Content Strategies
The goal is to develop cross-media content and explore the challenges that relate to developing digital media. There are various documentaries being developed that use the VR to present the historical events from the perspective of those involved.
When it comes to sports, VR works the best. However, there are certain sports where you can’t be that close to the action, but the viewer does get the feeling of presence that they would necessarily expect. The closeup action, with a higher degree of presence, makes the VR be in its perfect form.
Virtual Reality has been extremely appealing to consumers who are focused on travel, adventure, storytelling, sports, and music.
The future is very clear and the glimpse can be seen through the immersive lens of a VR headset. The coming generations would never turn on the television ever, as the researchers expect. The ones, who will be growing in the post television screen world, are expected to never have a television in their houses. The broadcasters and the developers are all working towards generating content that gives the users an ultimate Virtual Reality experience.
