Virtual reality on your mobile phone
Written by Costbuys
The problem with the introduction of new technology has always been the initial cost. 3D took a long time to spread in Cinemas, and just as long when it came to consumer TVs. The same will be true for a lot of today’s emerging technologies like 4K, HDR etc. The worry is that as soon as they become affordable, they will be eclipsed by the next one, making it obsolete. Fortunately, it looks like Virtual Reality might not face the same fate.
Let’s be clear, the primary virtual reality systems on the market, the Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, HTC Vive etc. are all expensive. The Oculus requires an expensive gaming PC and so does the HTC. The PlayStation VR is more affordable but requires a PlayStation.
It looks like the VR revolution won’t be driven by any of those companies. They will get market share and have fantastic games, but it won’t be the sort of system that will have mass adoption. Instead, the device that will is the mobile phone.
The Samsung Gear VR and Google’s Cardboard (which you can buy from any online shopping website) opened the door for mass market VR. Some of the best experiences in VR are on the Gear VR platform. Google just launched their own VR platform for Android called Daydream. The Google Pixel is the only phone that supports the standard but more phones are expected with support and additional headsets. The chances are high that Daydream will enjoy stronger adoption thanks to the fact that is open to all manufacturers.
Regardless, smartphone penetration will mean that anyone who goes into a shop for a new phone will be able to buy a cheap add-on that will enable VR. This, in turn, will drive content creation as there is a potentially large market creating a positive feedback loop and almost ensure its success.
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