Perhaps as short as ten years ago, the idea of virtual reality seemed like a sci-fi dream. To immerse yourself in another world, by just wearing a pair of goggles; who could believe something as fantastical as that? But just a few months after the release of the major VR headsets, it can be said for sure that VR has arrived.
VR seemingly appeared out of nowhere and exploded quickly. For many, the first headset to catch attention was the Oculus Rift. A successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012 and eventual purchase by Facebook gave Oculus the money it needed. Viral videos, like the one where an unsuspecting Rift user is pushed while riding a virtual roller coaster brought the hype. But as with any big tech breakthroughs today, the arrival of one product launched the market for more brands to join the fray.
In fact, the current competition seems to have gotten the best of Oculus at the moment. HTC's Vive headset is making the news these days, mostly thanks to its partnership with Valve, the massive gaming company and owners of Steam, the PC gaming client and store, famous for its ludicrous sales. The gaming community has always been a major target of VR, and that is clear with all the publicity the Vive is getting. Head down to YouTube, and you'll find endless videos of people marveling over the most mundane tasks being done in VR; there are VR mechanics, chefs, and all sorts of normal everyday simulators. Just imagine how excited those people will be in a few years' time.This is just the start of VR. Soon large game developers will be pushing titles with VR, more than just indie horror games and "look around and pick up stuff" simulators.
Users can experience life as a cook in this popular VR game
And for those that worry VR will die out like the fads of old, don't be afraid; more than just the gaming market is taking advantage of this technology. NBC announced that a variety of Olympic events will feature VR capabilities. They'll be using the Samsung Gear, a headset that uses your Samsung phone as the screen. It doesn't pack the same quality as the Vive or Rift, but at a much reduced price, it's an attractive deal. If VR has a strong showing at the Olympics, you can bet that VR will find itself in more live television events. TV needs any advantage it can get, as viewers are cutting cables everywhere in favor of online streaming and services like Netflix.
And in what should be no surprise to anyone, VR has found a home in the adult industry. I'm not even going to explain why; just understand that VR is making a huge impact. So huge that the Japan's first VR porn festival was closed prematurely, because of concerns of overcrowding due to an unexpected turnout.
VR is off to a great start. As its technology improves and headset prices drop across the board, soon more than just VR enthusiasts will have one in their home. VR is no longer the stuff of dreams; it's a reality.
