Why VR is getting more and more popular ?

Recently we can observer increased interest in virtual reality. We can find a lot of articles related with new devices, companies investing in new project/startups etc. All of this forced me to ask this question...why ?

It isn't anything new

Let`s be honest, virtual reality is not a new idea, it isn't even a new technology. Virtual reality was with us for a long time now. So why now ?

Well first of all it is caused by evolution of technology. We have better software and better hardware. Miniaturization is one of the keys that is responsible for growth of virtual reality. It is just much better than in the past.

Is it all about technology ?

I think not. I think that this change is related with change of our perception, of our need for consumption content in newer, better (?) way. We can see that increased interest with virtual reality is strongly related with a much bigger consumption of video content. Internet TV (Netflix), Facebook (more video on the wall, idea of using video instead of profile picture), video blogs, increased role of sites like youtube, twitch.

We evolved from text, through images to video and we won't stop now. Images were a better way to represent our thoughts. Video is better way to present what we wanted to show on couple of images. We always want more, we always want something better, there will be always someone that will want to see something more. So how can we go further ? Yes ! Using virtual reality. Virtual reality will allow us to show more and to interact with the things that are represented.

Welcome to the future

To be honest, we`re already between video and VR by using more often 360 videos. It already allows us to see the same thing from different point of view, to see more. Same movie can be seen a couple of times, and every time we'll see something that wasn't seen before. It increase our interest, it increase our involvement, and it pumps a bit our imagination. The next natural step is to interact with elements of the content, to become part of this, to get into it.
Probably we'll se more and more projects related with virtual reality and this will be probably a next big revolution if our lives. Prices of headsets are getting chipper. More projects and more possible clients and new technologies will probably lower them even more. VR will be something standard in our lives and this will change a lot in the way how we interact with our computers, how interact with content. This will a new chapter.

Virtual reality and augmented reality ?

Interesting is that augmented reality is not using the same pattern. The differences (you can read more about them HERE) are too big. Usage of both technologies are on the opposite ends of the stick. Augmented reality will not be able to increase our perception of the video and even if than probably the quality of this will be too low so it will be still a waste of time. Augmented reality is focused too much on the useable part of ur live. Is that bad ? I don't think so.