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Virtual Reality's Resurgence In Boston And Beyond
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Virtual reality has been a 3-D technological dream for decades, embodied by images of donning a pair of special goggles and being transported to another world.
But, until recently, it has remained a crude digital landscape that left people unimpressed and more than a little nauseous.
Now, the technology is making a comeback led by a sophisticated virtual reality headset called the Oculus Rift. In 2012, the Oculus VR — the makers of the headset — raised $2.5 million on Kickstarter, and last spring, Facebook bought the company for $2 billion.
Now, Facebook, Sony, HTC and Samsung say they'll have a consumer headset out in the next year, and virtual reality software companies are popping up everywhere, including here in Boston.
Guests
Andy Tsen, co-founder of Tribe VR. He tweets @Andy_Tsen
Scott Kirsner, innovation economy columnist for The Boston Globe and blogger at BetaBoston. He tweets @ScottKirsner
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Meetup.com: Boston Virtual Reality
- "We're here to talk about, program, share, and demonstrate software, hardware, and ideas for the upcoming new wave of virtual reality." The next meetup is Wednesday, July 29 at 6 PM at the Cambridge Innovation Center.
Beta Boston: Is Virtual Reality On The Verge Of Going Mainstream?
- "The 'big bang' moment that many entrepreneurs are awaiting happens next year, when Oculus, a unit of Facebook, begins selling its headset to consumers. In part, that’s because a large number of companies are developing content, software, and accessories for it."
The New York Times Magazine: Virtual Reality Fails Its Way To Success
- "Of all the praise heaped upon Oculus, the virtual-reality company that Facebook acquired for $2 billion earlier this year, perhaps the most significant has been this: non-nauseating."
Re/code: 8 Eye-Opening Things We Learned About Virtual Reality This Week
- "Patience. That, distilled to a word, was the theme of the Silicon Valley Virtual Reality expo this [May] in San Jose, Calif."
This segment aired on July 23, 2015.