This question I am posting to Home Theater, but appreciate its transfer to Padded Cell.
In short, I had an experience with the Occulus Rift and it is mind blowing - based on my prior experience up until now. Forget Dolby 7.1, or 3D TV, you are almost THERE!
I believe films of the future will be recorded this way, and it's not a fad like 3D TV. Next year I will invest in it I think.
Can you foresee you taking this up?
Posted on: 15 August 2016 by Phil Harris
Hmmm...
Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are great devices for immersive real-time generated environments and Project Cars / Elite Dangerous are quite stunning when used with a VR headset but at this time I can't see any way that at this time I would change from using my projector / plasma to a VR headset for watching movies.
Certainly with the current state of play then neither the Rift or the Vive don't cut it for me for watching movies on (the displays aren't good enough yet IMO) and of course it is rather a solitary experience ... of course that may change in the future but at this time I can't see me ending up looking like a refugee from "Lawnmower Man".
Phil
Posted on: 15 August 2016 by Kevin-W
Why bother?
Movies are about sitting in a darkened room with strangers or intimates, watching light and movement on a big screen. Films are a communal experience. I suppose this kind of pointless "tech for tech's sake" will appeal to the empty-headed millennials who consume the vacuous CGI dreck that seems to pass for moviemaking these days, but really, why would you want to cut yourself off like this, except out of pure solipsism?
Posted on: 15 August 2016 by Innocent Bystander
Whilst I can see the attraction for total occular immersiveness, it looks uncomfortable, and as some have said it removes any sociability. I think I'm immersed enough with a 12ft wide screen 11 ft in front of me, in a darkened room with surround sound, drink visibly to hand, snacks too if wanted (even microwave popcorn for an authentic cinema atmosphere), and company.
3D on a large screen without having to wear anything is the better future - though whether achievable is questionable : success with narrow viewing angles and tightly defined viewing position is one thing, but a large screen with varied viewing positions is quite another matter.
Posted on: 15 August 2016 by Consciousmess
Interesting responses! I agree there is a social element to film watching, but surely all of us like it when no one's in and we can watch what we want? Typically partners have different tastes in programmes - evidenced by Sky channels aimed at genders. Yes there are films and programmes appealing to both -- but this is not ALL.
So having the option to watch entirely immersed ALONGSIDE being able to watch with partner is why I am keen.
(Plus there's no annoying person scuffing popcorn in their mouth next to me like a pig in a trough!)
