If you will rewind to about two years ago, you’ll remember that almost on an everyday basis, there would be news of what new thing can be done with 3D printing. Well, virtual reality, or VR has unseated 3D printing as the most newsy piece of technology today. It’s also unseated wearables, though one could argue that a VR headset is a wearable itself.
Even though Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this year that it would be at least ten years before virtual reality reached the masses, there’s neither a dearth of products nor use cases for VR being showcased at an unbelievable rate. Anyone who hasn’t experienced it, should seek out the experience. Google Cardboard, a DIY-like headset made of cardboard, can let you do that cheaply — you can order it from Amazon. Some budget phones are also beginning to come with VR headsets, such as the recent Karbonn launch of two headsets that will work with its smartphones, Quattro L52 and Titanium Mach 6 priced at Rs 8,790 and Rs 7,490, respectively. Lenovo also earlier launched the K4 Note with an optional VR headset. At the flagship end, Samsung’s new Galaxy S7 and Edge work with the Oculus-based Gear VR headset and HTC is close to launching the Vive headset.
There’s plenty of action both on the VR hardware and software front, so much so that many industries are looking at what virtual reality will do to them. In Australia, for example, Tourism Australia has put together a global campaign of some 17 VR and 360-degree video experiences to show potential visitors what it would feel like to visit various aquatic and other spots. The experiences can be so immersive there’s a new worry that this would actually cannibalise real tourism.
Recently a major surgery was broadcast on VR, giving a full view of the operating table, showing how VR could impact remote participation in surgery and work as an educational tool. VR is already being used in simulators for training in driving and flying.
Really interesting uses are cropping up of VR being used to treat pain: apparently the distraction of this other reality can actually alleviate the experience of pain and fool the receptors in the brain to a great extent. Psychologists are also trying out VR to treat patients of severe phobias. Simulating the kind of experience that was linked with a phobia was physically impractical till now but with virtual reality you can create and better control it, even letting the patient take it in small doses as part of a cognitive therapy program.
Games and the entertainment industry are, of course, first off with the use of VR and the worry is that the immersive experience will keep users away from real life more and more. When I first experienced virtual reality, my one comment was — See you guys. I’m staying in here. As the devices do go mass, it’s going to be tough to persuade people to attend to the boring stuff waiting outside of that headset.
And right on cue, the porn industry is beginning to test the waters. It’s inevitable of course. Although it’s said to be a fantastic and realistic experience, it’s early days yet or ‘in beta’. People are wondering however whether virtual reality sex is going to impact the sex worker industry.
It’s a safe bet to assume that we’re going to hear about virtual reality all through the rest of this year, at least. Virtual reality headset revenues it is predicted, will reach $895 million in 2016 alone, with newly launched premium devices from Oculus, HTC, and Sony accounting for 77 percent of the value, according to research from Strategy Analytics.
BW Reporters
Mala Bhargava has been writing on technology well before the advent of internet in Indians and before CDs made their way into computers. Mala writes on technology, social media, startups and fitness. A trained psychologist, she claims that her understanding of psychology helps her understand the human side of technology.
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