Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Go Mainstream

摘要

While I love all things tech, I've never really been a gamer. Until now, that is. This spring I bought an Oculus Quest, which is a new virtual reality (VR) headset, and I am loving playing the VR games! Facebook bought Oculus in 2014, and the company has several VR headset options, but the Oculus Quest is Bluetooth-based (so the user is not tethered to anything), does not require a gaming console, and allows the user to purchase games from a catalogue displayed in the headset. You open the Oculus Quest box and just start playing. The games are really active; even though I run three to four miles a day, I often find myself breaking a sweat in the middle of an Oculus game. At a cost of $399, the Oculus Quest sold out when they were first introduced in Spring 2019 and sold out again after Cyber Monday. Facebook says they are selling them as fast as they can make them. The VR games I play tend to involve me wielding a saber, but a colleague of mine enjoys a fishing game because it is relaxing. The Oculus Quest has over 100 game options. However, the games are not just about earning points, there are VR experiences for travel as well. You may have seen the recent Washington Post article where travel VR experiences are being offered to residents in assisted living facilities. Some VR "games" are documentary style tours, like the $9.99 Hoover Dam tour that allows the user to go anywhere they want, including getting a tour and briefing on how the turbine and generators work. You can also watch clips of it on YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.