The Oculus Connect conference recently took place in California, bringing together over 3,000 VR developers, investors and tech enthusiasts to discuss the future of virtual reality (VR). Despite acknowledging that cost, limited content and low user adoption were among the biggest hurdles facing the industry, Oculus announced progress since its March 2016 launch, including over one million Rift headset shipments and more than 30 VR games in development. Speaking on day two of the conference, industry experts discussed developments in stand-alone VR headsets, eye-tracking for more natural interactions with VR environments, and the potential for haptic feedback giving the user physical sensations in virtual reality.
Industry Experts Discuss the Future of Virtual Reality at Oculus Connect
Introduction
The Oculus Connect conference, organized by Facebook-owned virtual reality (VR) company Oculus, brought together industry experts from around the world to discuss the future of VR. The event, held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California, was attended by more than 3,000 developers, investors, and tech enthusiasts.
The State of VR Today
The first day of the conference started with a keynote speech by Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe, who highlighted the progress made by the company in the past year. He noted that the Oculus Rift headset had shipped more than one million units since its launch in March 2016, and that more than 30 VR games were in development for the platform.
The Challenges Ahead
Despite this progress, Iribe acknowledged that there were still challenges ahead for VR. The high cost of entry, the limited selection of available content, and the lack of user adoption were among the biggest hurdles facing the industry.
The Future of VR
The second day of the conference focused on the future of VR, with industry experts discussing the latest developments in the field. One of the biggest topics of discussion was the emergence of standalone VR headsets, which don’t require a PC or smartphone to operate.
Standalone VR Headsets
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, unveiled a new standalone VR headset called the “Oculus Go”. This device, priced at $199, is designed to bring VR to the masses by providing an affordable and easy-to-use platform.
Advancements in VR Technology
Other experts discussed advancements in VR technology, such as eye-tracking, which allow for more natural interactions with virtual environments. They also talked about the potential for haptic feedback, which would enable users to feel physical sensations in virtual reality.
The Role of VR in Business and Education
Several experts highlighted the potential for VR in business and education. VR could be used for employee training, remote collaboration, and even virtual field trips for students.
Conclusion
The future of VR is still uncertain, but industry experts at the Oculus Connect conference showed that there is a lot of potential for the technology. With new advancements in hardware and software, and the increasing availability of affordable VR devices, the industry is poised for growth in the coming years.