There are a number of concerns commonly levelled at virtual reality (VR) tech. One that’s been expressed by a number of people from both in and out of the industry over the past few years is the worry that VR isn’t social, as users will have to pull on a head-mounted display (HMD) and obscure themselves from everyone else in the immediate area. Facebook, the social networking giant that purchased Oculus VR back in 2014, obviously disagrees. In fact, CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes that, in time, VR will be ‘the most social platform’.
Zuckerberg said as much during the 2016 Samsung Unpacked event in Barcelona, Spain yesterday. “VR is the next platform, where anyone can create and experience anything that they want,” he told a crowd of thousands. “Right now VR is still mostly used for games and entertainment, but that’s quickly evolving. And, one day, you’re going to be able to put on a headset and that’s going to change the way that you live and work and communicate. Imagine being able to sit in front of a campfire and hang out with your friends any time you want. Or be able to watch a movie in a private theatre with your friends any time you want. Imagine holding a group meeting or event anywhere in the world that you want. All these things are going to be possible.
“And that’s why Facebook is investing so much early on in virtual reality, so we can help to deliver these kinds of new social experiences. VR is going to be the most social platform.”
It was also announced yesterday that Facebook even has a new team that’s looking to build the ‘next-generation’ of social VR content for the platform. No doubt Facebook itself envisions a time when the majority of its services can be utilised through its HMDs.
For the latest on Facebook’s work in VR, stay tuned to VRFocus.
-END-
The post Zuckerberg: ‘VR is going to be the most social platform’ appeared first on VRFocus.
