Virtual reality was all the rage at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas -- but what do you really know of it?
The Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets have been gaining mainstream popularity for the last couple years, but their steep price and niche use for video gamers make virtual reality still a novelty for most people. But hundreds of SXSW attendees got to experience virtual reality at the VR/AR Experience, many -- including me -- for the first time. And I learned that VR is not completely what I expected.
1. It's not just about headsets anymore
One of the first VR exhibits I walked into could barely be called VR. It was a small dome placed at the back of a dimly lit conference room in the Hilton hotel. The Fulldome Pro mimicked the way a planetarium projects movies, allowing a full sensory experience for whoever was laying down inside the dome.
For everyone outside of it, at least they got a good glimpse of the surreal video created by artist Android Jones, who has worked on the visuals for James Cameron's Avatar, according to Fulldome Pro CTO Nitai Flick.
2. A lot more than just a good pair of goggles go into VR
The mini FulldomePro was just a demo, with actual domes stretching up to 120 feet and up to 64 projectors, according to Flick. Fulldome Pro is intended to be sold to studios for concerts or movies as an easily-installed alternative to entire theaters.
Fulldome Pro, alongside the 8K:VR installation which was simply a 3D movie screen coupled with 24 surround sound speakers and a good old-fashioned lights show, seemed to imply that VR is going the way of 3D movie theaters -- making it more easily accessible.
3. It could be the new way to see concerts, music videos and movies
More than just gaming, VR is becoming a storytelling medium.
The Subpac VR experience showed how a music video can become an interactive experience with a 180-degree view of a Run the Jewels' video, Crown. You can tilt your head to the left, right and even above to see several different things happening in the video made especially for the New York Times' VR app. Here's a glimpse of what I saw below.
Another VR installation, BipolarID, prized itself in a heightened experience of stories or real-life documentary-style shots. While VR still allows users to participate in the story, these VR installations are comfortable with letting you sit back and watch.
4. It can even help you with your exercise
At the Gaming Expo, another VR discovery could be made: virtual reality biking.
The effect of exercising while being immersed in another reality could be disorienting, but this could mean another level for VR -- one that doesn't include just lounging and watching.
5. VR porn is a thing
But we couldn't get into the panel, "VR Porn: The Future is Upon Us, What's Next?" You should just know that it exists, and is apparently a very bizarre experience.
