The Oculus Rift is among the biggest names in technology, and that’s because it claims to be the first great VR experience. Your primary audience will likely be gamers in the future, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other uses for the device. In fact, there is infinite potential for hardware.
Theatergoers have long tackled the problem that movies are an experience totally dependent on other people. A noisy viewer can ruin a movie for someone who’s not there to watch someone, say, play games on their cell phone or get their chair kicked repeatedly. But as of now, a movie theater is the only affordable way to get the 3D movie experience.
Oculus Rift might as well change that. While it is intended to be a virtual reality headset, the device may well be priced under $ 300 at launch. The Oculus Rift is certainly 3D-compliant, which means that consumers will have access to not only their first affordable VR experience, but their first decent 3D display as well. The mere experience of watching a movie in 3D is about to be available on the mass market. In short, 3D movies are certainly Oculus Rift compatible and a great reason to buy just one.
But there is another type of experience that the Oculus Rift could offer 3D movie consumers. Some of us like the theater experience itself, and the problem is more the people around us. A Korean company sees a market there, so it has been working hard to build a virtual reality theater where you can get up and walk. It not only provides the experience of your favorite theater, but also plays your movies. Users can select between 2D and 3D viewing modes on the cinema screen itself. Not only can Oculus Rift be used to watch 3D movies, it can also be used to simulate the entire theater experience.
One thing worth noting is that the Oculus Rift will lock everything other than the movie screen in standard viewing mode. The device has a head-mounted seven-inch screen, but the 3D effect only overlaps in the center of the field of view, meaning it simulates human vision more effectively than any previous device. This would make 3D movies feel more 3D. That’s because human vision isn’t actually all 3D. Only the area that both eyes can see is actually 3D. 3D movies on Oculus Rift won’t just be 3D; they will feel more realistic than the traditional home theater or television experience.
It’s an exciting time to be a movie consumer, because the Oculus Rift and its inevitable competitors, as technology catches on, will change the precision of 3D movie for the better. While not yet available to consumers, this headset is about to launch and all indications are that it will become a new standard. If you’re a fan of 3D movies, but would like the experience to be a little more personal, this might just be the device to watch in 2013.