This is not my first time to experience VR technologies. Because I majored in new media management, I’m really interested in different new technologies. I took new media business course last year, and I had a chance to try those VR devices in the innovation lab. It inspired my interest in VR technology. After that, I decided to take this VR storytelling course to know more about VR technology.

On this Wednesday, I got the chance to take a closer look at different VR headsets and observe others to go through each VR story. To begin with, I think Google Cardboard is the simplest VR headset, and you can just use your smartphone to experience VR. So, I think it’s a good and easy way to introduce VR to people without any VR experience and to inspire their interests in VR technology. However, its quality of 3D graphics and immersion are least because of the limited technology. In addition, users need to use hand to hold cardboard all the time, which is inconvenient.

Speaking of Samsung Gear VR, I’m more familiar with it because of tons of Samsung advertisements. There is a Samsung advertisement about Marvel’s Avengers which impresses me. In this ad, when people wear Samsung Gear on, they become Avengers and jump into the movies to complete the mission. This ad really attracts me to try Samsung Gear VR. In this class, I used Samsung Gear to experience some 360 video, such as New York street, Ocean Rift and so on. Of course, it’s more immersive and comfortable than cardboard. We can turn our head to look around, but we can’t move when we are wearing it. I think it’s suitable to watch some short 360 video. However, because Samsung Gear still needs to use phone to as the displayer, the quality and sharpness are not really good.

Comparing with cardboard and Samsung Gear, Oculus Rift Dk2 and HTC vive are more high-tech. They are more immersive and higher quality. With Oculus, I tried Google Earth and Tilt brush.  Google Earth impresses me a lot, and I feel great with this application. It really likes some fiction movie. If the clarity of the map could be better, it would be great. About Tilt brush, I think it’s a good tool for designer, and it can help them present and create their work more effective. The big difference between Oculus and HTC vive is you can walk around with HTC vive. It makes users feel more physically present in the video story. For example, when I am trying “After Solitary”, I just feel that I’m a character in the story, and I can walk around in the virtual environment. It feels real. However, I think if the headset could be wireless, the experience would be better. This is because when you wear the headset to walk around, you may be stumbled by the wire. In addition, I found that it’s difficult for classmates with glasses to wear those headsets. I think it’s a problem can be solved in the future.

Overall, my VR experience in this class is great. Actually, I’m a big fan of video game. VR technology is successfully applied in video gaming. Moreover, I think VR technology also changes the media industry, and it presents a new way to tell stories. For example, if some television or film production companies use VR technology to produce VR shows, it’s more attractive and interactive. It can create an immersive experience like the famous immersive theatre Sleep No More. In this digital world, technologies, business models and consumer behavior will change more quickly. I think VR technology will change us a lot in the future.