Virtual Reality is Becoming a Reality
As a trailing member of generation-X, or perhaps the start of generation-Y, I had the promise of virtual reality from a young age. Movies, TV, books, and more have fantasized virtual reality all through the late 80’s and 90’s, but despite attempt after attempt it just hasn’t been able to break into the mainstream in any significant manner.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Just recently GoPro announced an astronomically priced ($10k +) rig that shoots 360 degree video.[/pullquote]
The biggest name in VR right now is Oculus Rift. The rift is an impressive piece of technology and plunges you in a 360 degree, 3D virtual world. It takes an amazing amount of computing power to render a relatively low-resolution world, but Rift proves that it’s possible to have an immersive world at a reasonable price in which the mainstream market can accept.
Just recently GoPro announced an astronomically priced ($10k +) rig that shoots 360 degree video. The technology couples with the accelerometers in our phones or tablets to detect movement and move the scene accordingly. You can see an example of this technology here, and make sure to use your phone or tablet for the true effect.
Today, at CanonExpo 2015 I had the opportunity to slip on Canon’s prototype headset of the future. I got a glimpse into the future of virtual reality! To my surprise, the world in front of me was not rendered, but was actual video. A 360 degree video similar to above, of similar quality of a Rift render in terms of resolution, but extremely smooth. I can’t explain the sensation, but it’s much different than the Oculus. Seeing real people, in a real place is a much different sense of ‘virtual reality’ over a world the looks more like a video game.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]As the conductor is making direct eye contact, I couldn’t help but naturally react by looking away after a few moments.[/pullquote]
The scene is a semi-circle of musicians performing, but your field of vision only sees about two of them at a clip. As you turn your head the scene shifts with you to see the conductor and other musicians. As the conductor is making direct eye contact, I couldn’t help but naturally react by looking away after a few moments.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]MReal technology overlays virtual objects in the real world.[/pullquote]
This virtual reality prototype headset was not the only thing Canon had to show off this year. They also had an entire room dedicated to their several year old “mixed reality” toolset designed for engineers in automotive or aerospace engineers. Canon calls this their “MREAL Technology”. This MReal technology overlays virtual objects in the real world.
There were several demonstrations of various uses of this technology which was amazingly impressive. I was shocked it was already two years old and being used in the field, as it doesn’t seem to garner nearly the attention it deserves. The first demonstration was a frame of a car. With the headset on, you did not see a frame but a full automobile, complete with color options, wheel options, etc. You could walk around the car and it appeared like a very real car, the quality was fantastic.
The next demonstration was even more impressive. Wearing the headset you are presented with a virtual object of some sort (picture some large box out a spaceship with many screws, hoses, etc). You are handed a tool, which you see as virtual in your headset even though there really is a device your holding, although the actual device looks nothing like the tool in your field of vision. This tool can be applied to the object and you can lock onto screws, buttons, hoses, drill virtual holes, etc. This is not the practical application, thinking in a video game space, here comes player two. Player two is in a different room, a different state, or a different county. You and your real, but virtually displayed engineer teammate can now solve complex engineering problems together a world apart.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The Canon VR headset on the other hand looks fairly polished, and is hopefully right around the corner![/pullquote]
This is not a consumer technology, and I’m sure it’s hundreds of not millions of dollars to implement this system in real life, but it’s wild to know it has been implemented, and people in some industries are using it on a regular basis as part of their daily workflow. The Canon VR headset on the other hand looks fairly polished, and is hopefully right around the corner!
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…this new technology is going to open up a new world of content creation in 360 degrees and in 3D[/pullquote]
This should be exciting news for all photographers and videographers. Just like 4K has is forcing the industry to reshoot virtually everything to fill the void of 4K content, be it stock video, next years Sharkweek, or new cutting edge shows, this new technology is going to open up a new world of content creation in 360 degrees and in 3D.
In short, those of us in video and photography should rejoice that there will continue to be tremendous production and content creation opportunities to fill these new technologies.