British Comedy Guide

Virtual Reality

Is anyone aware of its current resurgence? I for one am very excited.

I'm just not sure of how much news about it has spilled over into the mainstream yet?

Well they're cracking it (after many failed attemps in the 80s and 90s) they finally have the technology/computing power to make it happen and over the next few years it's going to be huge!

I've already owned quite a few VR headsets from a development edition high end Oculus Rift to Google's own Cardboard, which is literally a piece of Cardboard folded into a viewing box that comes with plastic lenses, to which you insert your smartphone that acts as the display.

That high end Oculus Rift I mentioned, isn't really high end anymore, it was basically a high-tech version of the Cardboard made with plastic, it had head tracking sensors in it and was plugged into your PC instead of your phone but the basic ideas are similar.

Now they've announced a new version, a consumer version (no longer developmental) with a price tag of $599 (£SHIT-TON). That price, along with the recommended computer spec will set you back at least ($1600) -excuse my use of dollars, it's an American product and these are the figures floating about, it'll cost substantially more here in the UK- (sadface).

This is high end stuff, no longer a smartphone pushed against some lenses. This has a special screen developed just for this, with full motion head tracking, which means you can lean into the scene rather than just observe it at a distance.

Anyway, the guy (his name is Palmer Lucky) who developed the Oculus Rift was about 20 years old when he went to a tech trade show with a smartphone taped to some ski Googles, basic motion sensors attached. This guy ended up being seen by the right people and about 2 years later was bought by Facebook for $2bn!

Okay I can geek out about this stuff for ages.

This technology is not just about gaming, this will be an experience. It's developing at an amazing pace, think of the mobile phone, it's going to be everywhere once they get the price right (which won't take long).

Yes, yes, yes. Nothing will beat standing on the moon for real but for now, putting on a headset and having your brain be fooled by your virtual surrounds will be the next best thing and you can do it in your living room in your pants..

Speaking of which virtual porn - it's awesome and they've not even got it quite right yet but they will.

Okay, I'll stop talking now, no one will read all this. :$

I read it all, just to make sure you hadn't gone mental. ;)

I think I saw the oculus wotsit on the Gadget Show. Moon type experiences like you mention would be very cool, but I do worry about the people who will just never leave their bloody houses ever again.

Anyway, haven't you seen Red Dwarf? We're all already living in virtual reality, we just don't know it yet.

I agree with Zooo each new bit of technology is somehow aimed at keeping people away from other people and locking them into their own world. We all are guilty of building our own picture of what others on this site, based on the avatar and name, are like, this happens on dating sites and when the real person is met boy most people are disappointed, with this new technology if you have walked around a virtual place and fallen in love with it, then gone there for real I am sure there will be plenty of "oh dear not what I expected". Until smells, uneven ground and the unexpected can be built into these virtual worlds then I will be staying away. If it is for you then go for it.

Strumpet

Quote: zooo @ 16th January 2016, 1:33 AM GMT

I read it all, just to make sure you hadn't gone mental. ;)

No but I was a bit drunk last night :$

Quote: zooo @ 16th January 2016, 1:33 AM GMT

I think I saw the oculus wotsit on the Gadget Show. Moon type experiences like you mention would be very cool, but I do worry about the people who will just never leave their bloody houses ever again.

There is definitely a risk of that but then again it's already happening with people playing those World of Warcraft style games. I don't think progress of technology should be stopped because a few might abuse it.

Here's an example of a benefit it would be to our society - http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/11/doctors-saved-a-babys-life-using-google-cardboard-virtual-reality-5614657/

Quote: zooo @ 16th January 2016, 1:33 AM GMT

Anyway, haven't you seen Red Dwarf? We're all already living in virtual reality, we just don't know it yet.

:D

Quote: Strumpet @ 16th January 2016, 5:07 AM GMT

I agree with Zooo each new bit of technology is somehow aimed at keeping people away from other people and locking them into their own world. We all are guilty of building our own picture of what others on this site, based on the avatar and name, are like, this happens on dating sites and when the real person is met boy most people are disappointed, with this new technology if you have walked around a virtual place and fallen in love with it, then gone there for real I am sure there will be plenty of "oh dear not what I expected". Until smells, uneven ground and the unexpected can be built into these virtual worlds then I will be staying away. If it is for you then go for it.

Strumpet

As I said in reply to zooo, people will abuse it but I think the benefits will outweigh the negative side. The same thing can be said for all our current technology such as mobile phones - a useless novelty but how many times has it saved people in danger?

You had me at 'porn.' ;)

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