VR Here After

What is real? How do you define real? If you're talking about what you can hear, what you can smell, taste and feel, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. - Morpheus (The Matrix)

While the concept is much deeper than our minds can digest, if you’re thinking that virtual reality (VR) is all about gaming, then think again. Are you a sports fan? The US Open Golf Tournament was live streamed in VR last year. A music fan? Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Jack White and others have experimented with 360-degree 3D videos. A movie buff? The 2016 Sundance movie festival, showcased thirty VR stories and three full-length VR feature films. Or you want to catch up latest news? Even there’s a VR app for your smartphone. So virtual reality isn’t just about gaming. It’s the Next Big Thing in entertainment, media, social networking, and a whole lot more. There are three types of VR content other than gaming that will shake up your world in 2016 and beyond.

WHY 2016 IS THE YEAR OF VR

2016 is the year that VR headsets finally hit the mainstream. The Oculus Rift is the most anticipated, since it is owned by Facebook. It’s already on sale. Sony is another big player; its PlayStation VR is expected to arrive by the end of September. HTC Vive is the third big player and it will come out in the next quarter as well.

THE VR HEADSET

Okay, these headsets all look kind of dorky, but never mind what you’ll look like wearing one. What’s more important is what you’ll be looking at. There are already solid mobile VR options available in the market today, including Samsung Gear VR and Google Cardboard. So the hardware is ready and will be in the hands of millions of people by mid-2016. Now let’s focus on how VR will change content.

LIVE SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT