VR Predictions For The Next 5 Years

Introduction

As I sit here, over Christmas, reading Robert Scoble and Shel Israel’s book ‘The Fourth Transformation’ I cannot help but feel that 2017 is going to be the ‘breakthrough year’ for VR.

Scoble has been saying that before the end of the year we will see Apple enter this space in full force, with a Mixed Reality ready phone – and I believe it.

If you are reading this, you have most likely glimpsed the experience of VR for yourself.

‘Cardboard’ is an entry point, a gateway, then comes the ‘platforms’ accessible through your mobile (both Google Daydream and Oculus), but the tethered headsets (Vive and Oculus Rift) are are a level up again – especially when you experience the sense of ‘touch’ in VR through handsets.

I am not going to make any predictions for 2017, but instead will quote the lead roles in HTC and Oculus as to what they see on the horizon. For the rest of us it will be a case of entering the stream of change once again, and possibly steer or navigate a course within it.

What Does HTC Say?

What Does Oculus Say?

Quoting this article, from UploadVR, the Oculus Chief Scientist Predicts the Next 5 Years of VR Technology as follows:

Oculus Touch:

What we see now may well be ‘the mouse of VR’ that we will continue seeing for the next 40 years

Resolution:

Doubling of the current pixels per degree to 30, widening of FoV to 140 degrees (having resolution of around 4000×4000 per eye – which is much more demanding and needs ‘foveated rendering’ to be achieved within 5 years)

Sound:

Positional audio will improve using ‘personalised head-related transfer functions (HRTFs)’ – it is through the modelling of ‘reflection, diffraction and interference patterns’ that will enable sound to become more realistic.

Lightweight Headsets:

in brief, they are going to get lighter, be wireless and be ‘more balanced’ (as well as account for prescriptions),

Augmented VR:

This seems to be a form of Mixed Reality, including where you can scan a real environment and recreate it in VR. Quoting the article, “The real significance of augmented VR is being able to share any environment with other people, locally or across the world.”

Challenges:

One of the main challenges is around how to express facial changes of a VR avatar, as well as shifts in body language.

All In All…

We know things are heating up, and it is exciting to see. The question now is how can you ‘take what you’ve got’ and position yourself in a space that is getting attention?

And of course, we are here, exploring, developing, learning too.

Here at Weavr we are working with creative minds who tell better stories in virtual reality, and give us an easy way to share them back in 2D as well.

A version of this post originally appeared on Weavr.Space

*********************************************************

Martin is a keynote speaker, author (business, personal development), marketing consultant and Official Google Small Business Advisor Founder and community manager of 'Plus Your Business' he spends much of his time supporting businesses make the most of Social, Search and Spend, including Google+, Adwords and Reviews.

"When it comes to social media, Martin Shervington is one of the most clever and hard working people you'll find. He'll help you take your game to the next level."

GUY KAWASAKI

 "Reviews are the lifeblood of most local companies, and Martin and his team provide the wisdom and guidance you need to master this business imperative."

JAY BAER  - Best selling author of "Youtility"

"@MartinSherv...can help YOU grow your business. Smart guy. :)"

CHRIS BROGAN - New York Times best selling author