by Jake Woomer ‘14
After reaching over $2 million dollars in its Kickstarter, the Oculus Rift has gained popularity on the internet not only by gamers, but by anyone fascinated by virtual reality. To those that do not know about the Oculus Rift, it is a virtual reality headset designed for immersive gaming.
Unlike my past product reviews, when I relied on 3rd party product testing information – I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to test the technology first hand. While visiting Miami University – I was able to tour their Interactive Media Studies Lab where I tested a developer version of the Oculus Rift. I can honestly say that this technology deserves all the positive press it has been receiving.
When I first put on the Oculus Rift I could immediately see myself inside a beautiful house by the sea. Everything about the actual laboratory I was standing in was invisible to me. All I saw was the virtual room. Even though my brain knew I was in the lab – my sense of sight took over and I truly felt like I was in this beautiful home. When handed the controller I was able to move around and explore every nook and cranny of the house. I walked down the stairs and my body felt like I was actually moving downward. I found myself actually having to check my balance. After exiting the house I walked completely around the exterior. I explored the the vast green landscape against a cliff. When I turned and saw the ocean – the view was absolutely breathtaking. Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder – it was time for the next person’s turn. And so ended my tranquil experience with the Oculus Rift.
Needless to say my first experience with the Oculus Rift exceeded my expectations – it left me in awe. The visual atmosphere impressed upon me the notions of what this experience could produce. It is without any doubt that this virtual reality technology will play a large part in the advancement of video games, and maybe even our personal lives (Google Glass), in the near future. While the price and launch date have not been announced – you can expect to see the Oculus Rift on the market by late 2014 or early 2015. Look forward to it!
