Looking into the Future of Virtual and Augmented reality

VR headset

The first virtual reality device was created in the 1960s. Since then, these technologies have made real progress. And according to all expectations, we still have something to look forward to. Today we will look at five technological innovations that we are likely to see soon.

Virtual reality offers us a computer-generated environment that looks very real. You can enter this world with virtual glasses or a virtual helmet, and you can do here pretty much everything. The only thing that will limit you is the current state of technology.

The use of augmented and virtual reality is endless. For example, these technologies have been already applied in medicine. It has been used, for example, to distract burns patients. The VR has been utilised to treat PTSD, phobias or depression. Thanks to technology, surgeons and other doctors can educate themselves and simulate operations. These technologies can also be found in the police, soldiers or astronauts training.

Nevertheless, the most important use for VR / AR is in the gaming industry. For several years we have seen a rapid increase interest in these technologies. Large internet companies such as Facebook or Google, game developers, online casinos, technology companies or educational institutes, adapt them.

Five New Technologies in VR/AR

Wide Field-of-View AR Displays

One of the most significant drawbacks of the augmented reality technology is the small field of view. But this will change soon. Laser technology will create microelectromechanical displays that place waveguides in front of the eyes of users. Magnification of the image is then achieved by moving the angle of the mirrors.

Creating Alternative Worlds

For example, the famous Pokemon Go or Google Maps with interactive pedestrian navigation are examples of creating such alternative worlds. As a result, the technology could turn the tabletop into a touch screen or change the view from the window in real-time. However, the basis is accurate real-world mapping systems. As expected, scanning techniques will improve rapidly in the coming years.

5G Network

The first 5G mobile network has already launched testing in several major cities in America, Europe or Asia. Other companies are about to start in the coming years. Although question marks are attached to its introduction and the consequences of worldwide use, it is expected to replace the existing 4G networks soon.

Thanks to the mobile 5G network, wireless data portability will increase exponentially, which is estimated to be up to 100 times faster. In addition to other purposes, 5G will be extremely helpful in creating a virtual reality for which today’s technology is simply not sufficient.

Switch to Fully Autonomous Devices

Even in 2019, some VR helmets or goggles had to be connected to a desktop computer or game console. However, such a concept is slowly but surely retreating. For example, Oculus Go glasses are already sold, which work more or less autonomously. You only need to pair them with a mobile that has the app downloaded. In the future, VR / AR goggles are expected to be able to operate independently.

Eyes and Facial Expressions Tracking

In the future, we will be able to look forward to more natural communication in virtual space. It will be possible to thanks hardware accessories that enable eye and facial expression tracking. Microexpressions are crucial for effective and natural interpersonal communication. Eye and face tracking technology can then be enhanced with emotion detection software, which is beginning to emerge.