Category Archives: Virtual Reality 360

3D, Virtual Reality 360

#3D TV is dead in Australia, but smartphone-based #VR3D #VR viewers may replace TVs

As I’ve said before, smart phones provide an inexpensive entry point for virtual reality viewing:

A key benefit is that it does not require you to buy a new TV. Instead, you can use a smartphone, which 84% of Australians already have.

Source: 3D television is dead… so what next?

Consumer 3D TV died for multiple reasons

  1. Little to no content available (huge reason)
  2. Expense of purchasing a new TV just after many had upgraded to HDTV.
  3. The global economic collapse in 2009 onwards.
  4. And as the article notes, many parts of the world were just converting to digital television transmission, adding another hurdle for consumers.

Basically, timing and lack of content ended the consumer 3D TV market – and had nothing to do with having to wear glasses to view 3D, contrary to widespread news reporters assertions that 3D died because of “3D goggles” (the same reporters now gush over VR “helmets”).

While 3D TV has mostly disappeared for now, a lot of people are viewing 3D using VR 3D “Google Cardboard” viewers with their smart phones. There are Youtube videos targeting this audience that have been watched hundreds of thousands of times.

3D, 3D Tech, Business, Virtual Reality 360

CNET thinks #VR is already dead, apparently #VR3D #VR360 #CES2017

The media bad mouthed 3D – falsely referring to eyeglasses as “goggles” – contributing to the stunted market for consumer 3D TV. This CNET story reads like those old stories – just change “3D” to”VR”:

Virtual reality promises to be a mega-trend that upends how we use computers and just plain get along. So why’s it such a snooze at the world’s biggest tech expo?

Source: Virtually boring: VR really disappoints at CES this year – CNET

Yep, it’s 2017 and VR is just a snooze, practically dead, isn’t it?

Reminder – 3D was launched into a market in the midst of a near global economic depression. People who had just upgraded their old TVs to new HDTVs were asked to upgrade to more expensive 3D TVs. That was a non-starter. Second, there was very limited 3D content available. A limited selection of 3D BluRays – plus one or two 3D TV networks available only to a few. With little to watch, there was little reason to upgrade one’s HDTV to a new 3D HDTV.

News reporters, many of whom admitted they did not like 3D movies, invented their own explanation – they proclaimed consumers did not like “3D goggles”, referring to eyeglasses. The same reporters who wrote that then later wrote enthusiastically about Virtual Reality – never mind that VR elevates the “goggles” to literal helmets.

Now some reporters seem to be turning against VR because VR is not already in every home and being used for every possible application. The technology just isn’t roll out fast enough!

VR has something going for it that 3D TV did not – Google Cardboard-style viewers. Low cost, simple viewers that use existing smart phones enable consumers to enjoy VR 360 and VR 3D videos and games – at low cost! No large investment is required – no need to purchase an expensive 3D TV and upgrade your DVD player to 3D BluRay.

Second, content is delivered as gaming applications – no cable TV or satellite network support needed, as was needed for 3D. Users can watch VR 360 and VR 3D videos hosted on Youtube, Facebook and other online sites.

To summarize, VR has going for it:

  • Inexpensive ways to begin using VR today!
  • Access to free and inexpensive VR content, readily available!
  • Can also be used to watch 3D video – as a bonus feature – at no additional cost
3D, Business, Virtual Reality 360

RagingWire Data Centers provides a VR 3D tour of their data center

This is not a stereoscopic 3D tour but more of a high resolution VR tour that uses wide angle, detailed imagery that you can move around and look around within, to give a sense of 3D.

This is a good example of interactive VR tech used for a tour – this same concept could be applied to any building, property – or facilities such as museums.

Source: CA3 Data Center – Virtual Reality | RagingWire Data Centers

Related articles
Virtual Reality 360

Near Sighted VR Augmented aids the legally blind

This is a tremendously important application for those with central vision loss, potentially enabling them to see details again through augmented reality viewing:

“Are you legally blind or do you have low vision? Then Near Sighted VR might be right for you!”

Source: Near Sighted VR Augmented Aid 2.0 | Indiegogo

Watch this video to see what this is about. Keep in mind that 25% of those over 65 suffer some degree of macular degeneration and a technology like this can help them live a fuller life!