A few days ago, Sony Computer
Entertainment announced Project Morpheus, a virtual reality headset that works
with the company’s PlayStation 4 video game console. The headset will fool its
wearer into believing they have entered a simulated 3D world and, potentially,
bring the science-fiction dreams of the 1990s to the consumer market. Project
Morpheus has been in development for the past three years and is still in
prototype form. Sony made no mention of a launch date or price point and, as
such, the product is unlikely to be the first to market.
Oculus VR has raised $75m in
venture funding in the past 12 months and has generated a groundswell of
interest in the technology. VR’s influence and application will soon extend far
beyond the video game industry. Allowing people to experience what it’s like to
be somewhere else will impact many aspects of life. Sony is working with Nasa
to allow users to experience what it’s like to stand on Mars by using real
image data gathered from the Mars Rover. VR is going to be pervasive; it could
even be used to pick out a hotel room for your next trip by visiting a virtual
version of that room.
More information: