Can virtual reality become reality?

By: Josh Leach

What if you could go anywhere and do anything?  Virtual reality could make that possible.  The public has anxiously waited and intently watched this technology progress.  Developers have not quite perfected the technology yet, but people are excited that some devices have already been made available to consumers.  In fact, Samsung plans to release a virtual reality headset this year.
The 90’s was an important time for virtual reality.  The first headsets were created, and programmers designed virtual three-dimensional animations.  However, the poor quality of the graphics disappointed a lot of people.  The technology nearly faded from public eye until recently.  Processors are faster and more efficient now, and programmers are no longer struggling with the problems they had in the 90’s.
Oculus is a company on the forefront of virtual reality development.  According to Andrew Rosenblum, a writer for Popular Science, “In the first virtual reality (VR) boom in the 1990s, there were few bigger fans than Jeffrey Travis. The engineer and filmmaker had been waiting for the day he could don a virtual jetpack and explore a virtual world.”  Jeffrey Travis went on to found Oculus.  The company is most well known for creating the Oculus Rift.  Conor Ginger, a senior at Seckman High School, believes the device is “the single greatest invention of all time.”  Logan Smith, another senior, says, “Virtual reality makes anything possible both in the virtual and real worlds.”  The Oculus Rift has been configured for gaming, designing buildings and other complex structures, and even shopping.
Audi will be using the device for designing the interior of their cars.”  The auto company’s spokesperson says, “As part of the Audi VR experience, the Oculus Rift headset (likely the second developers' kit, which is pictured in Audi's press materials) will be paired with Bang and Olufsen headphones so that users can hear the in-car environment as well.”  According to Oculus.com, “We’ve teamed up with Samsung to create the Gear VR Innovator Edition, a cutting-edge development kit for mobile virtual reality, powered by Oculus.”  This new device should hit the market sometime this year.
Virtual reality is the ultimate medium.  People can literally submerge themselves into a world of limitless potential.  The dream of the entertainment industry has finally been realized.  More importantly, the technology’s practical applications are endless.  Once again, what if you could go anywhere and do anything?