Experiencing virtual reality (VR) for the first time must be like how early practitioners of cinema, telephones, television, and other technological advancements, once felt. VR feels like a new world, full of possibilities and pitfalls.
Samsung have entered the stage with a headset that costs around €99, requires a Samsung Galaxy Note 5, S6 or S6 to work, but delivers a far better VR experience than Google Cardboard. The interface is easy to use. There’s a directional pad for selecting and swiping through content. Once you’re in the virtual world, your eyes guide the cursor. The headset is a comfortable fit, and you can fine-tune the screen with a dial, so short-sighted punters can see every inch of the virtual world.
Once you’re set up, visit the Oculus Store for apps. Tribes, for example, immerses you in the worlds of travelling people. Guardian VR’s 6x9 is a terrifying virtual experience of solitary confinement. Vrse – a story-telling platform – includes the stories of Ebola survivors and Syrian refugees. By immersing the viewer in these worlds, and increasing empathy for other people’s lives, VR takes on exciting political and social dimensions.
Vrse includes U2’s ‘Song For Someone’, in which the band almost sits in your lap while crooning in 360 degrees. There’s downloadable music by Muse and Squarepusher – the implications for music videos, as well as live music, are thrilling.
VR is made for horror. Catatonic, Vrse’s terrifying short film, in which you are strapped to a wheelchair in an asylum, comes with a health warning. The Oculus Store lacks a search feature; it has Samsung Internet and Streetview VR, but could also do with more content.
Apart from the odd bout of vertigo, Samsung Gear VR delivers a relatively comfortable experience. Definitely not suitable for kids or drunkards, however