With the advent of information technology and social media, it is often difficult to discern reality from fiction nowadays. Fake news and alternative facts have become standard terms used by national leaders. Virtual environments such as Twitter and Facebook have banned individual personalities for not adhering to company policies. As the world becomes more digital, digital landscapes will play a pivotal role in how people interact with each other. Younger generations, in particular, interact primarily online through either smartphones or video games. While many older individuals are not able to understand this sort of infatuation with technology, advancements are merely just beginning. Many organizations have tried, but once the virtual reality is ready for the masses, reality will never be the same.

Virtual Reality – Content Experiences

While you watch your favorite shows or movies, these are mostly passive experiences viewed from a seated position. Film producers, such as David Guillod create content with this fact in mind. Your brain enters what some refer to as an alpha brainwave state where you are relaxed, yet aware of your surroundings. It is not immediately evident, but this is one of the reasons why the last word in the phrase television programming appears. With this said, multiple companies are working on virtual reality applications for passive content. Instead of merely watching a show on the couch, users will eventually be able to interact with objects inside of these environments. Being able to explore the landscapes of favorite television shows or movies is merely a straightforward application in this area.

Virtual Reality Theme Parks

Individual companies are already working towards bringing virtual reality theme parks to the masses. In the age of binge-watching shows, shared experiences are more important than ever when it comes to entertainment. Applying virtual reality in this manner could potentially allow each user to have a unique experience. In terms of theme parks, these environments would function similarly to theme parks that exist in reality. Users can enjoy fun challenges like laser tag and various forms of racing with friends. However, since these virtual reality environments exist in what many refer to as reality, the concept of truth itself is now under fire. It will be interesting to see if virtual reality theme parks will possess enough pull to direct the youth away from natural parks.

Virtual Reality & Video Games

The most obvious application for virtual reality involves video games. This type of application appears every so often, and every organization has fallen flat. However, technology is finally reaching a point where this sort of use makes sense. As more users become comfortable with the ability to traverse worlds in virtual environments, it will be easier to receive valuable feedback for these endeavors. Out of the big three, Nintendo has been the first to nail down motion control and make it feel as if you are moving. Microsoft, on the other hand, has used Hololens to augment games such as Minecraft for exciting user experiences. Virtual reality will eventually become mainstream, but there is not an estimated time table for these applications as of yet.