The Great Merge between Virtual Reality and Reality

It’s safe to say that technology is advancing at a rapid pace. What we once thought was a dream is turning into reality. From having pocket sized mobile phones, to having touch screen devices. All of this seems uncanny to an average human, that is, if you weren’t born after the 2000’s (millennials have it good; my 3 month old cousin can use gadgets better than me).

But let’s extend this a bit more. Instead of normal, boring reality, tech companies such as Oculus are introducing the world of virtual reality. As a fake gamer (that meaning, I don’t have any consoles, but I love watching gaming content online), I am so intrigued by this concept, especially from a gaming perspective. Virtual reality allows us to be immersed in an alternate situation. It lets us feel like we’re in a completely different world, even though in normal, boring reality, we’re at home sitting on a couch with a bowl of cereal in front of us.

With the gaming industry booming, it’s no surprise that one of mobile phone’s biggest brands, Samsung, has joined the bandwagon. They recently introduced their own virtual reality headset, titled ‘Gear VR’. Through their partnership with Oculus, Samsung has introduced their own headset that may become a prominent differentiator in the phone industry. Their headset is exclusive to Samsung devices only, more specifically, the Samsung S6 and above. This means that an individual who owns another brand of phone cannot use the Gear VR, thus, excluding them from such a product. This can give Samsung the competitive advantage they need since it puts them ahead of the virtual reality game, and also puts them one step ahead in the innovation game. Samsung’s headset is considerably cheaper than Oculus’s headset, which also makes it more affordable, especially if you already have Samsung phone.

Samsung has done a great job in integrating virtual reality headsets to their line of products. It is something that will attach the consumer’s eye, and it is definitely something that is unique within the market; for now, that is. Now we have to wait for Apple or HTC to unveil their virtual realty headset…

By Maddie

Reference article: http://www.cnet.com/au/news/virtual-reality-is-taking-over-the-video-game-industry/