While consumers have been waiting for the Oculus Rift, Samsung has released an affordable virtual reality headset, the Samsung Gear VR.
The Oculus Rift has been a hot piece of technology that consumers have been wanting to get their hands on. What many consider to be the premier virtual reality headset is still slated for release in early 2016, and we still do not know what the price tag is going to be.
Enter the Samsung Gear VR. In collaboration with Oculus VR, the South Korean electronics giant has released an affordable virtual reality headset with a price tag of only $100. So far, the future for the device looks promising – many stores sold out of the headset hours after stocking the shelves. This might be the holiday rush, but there certainly is a market for virtual reality. The question is can the device appeal to a wide range of users?
Does Virtual Reality Have Application Outside of Gaming?
As it stands today, the primary usage of virtual reality headsets is gaming. The Samsung Gear VR will appeal to the gaming crowd, but its also marketed to the general tech consumer. One of its selling points is a movie theater experience from the comfort of one’s own home.
So far, the headset has found use in the virtual tourism industry, allowing users to view 360 degree panoramas of locales from all over the world. There are other applications as well. Time will tell whether virtual reality will catch on with the general public. The technology in use these days is much more powerful than the fiasco of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy, so there certainly is a possibility.
Specifications
- Optical Lens: 96 degree Field of View
- Sensor: Accelerator, Gyrometer, Geomagnetic, Proximity
- Motion to Photon Latency: < 20ms
- Focal Adjustment: Covers Nearsighted / Farsighted Eyes
- Interpupillary Distance Coverage: 55 ~ 71 mm
- Physical User Interface: Touch Pad, Back Button, Volume Key
- Connection: microUSB connection
- Dimensions:198(W) x 116(L) x 90(H)mm
There is a catch to all of this. The Samsung Gear VR will have to be connected (via MicroUSB) to a flagship Samsung phone such as the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy Note 5. At least the headset ships with a 16 GB SD card filled with 360 degree videos and three-dimensional movie trailers to whet users’ whistles until they get their hands on some more apps or games.