Even before starting this course, I was curious to learn what virtual reality was about and explore the full potential of  this new technology as  related to journalism. After trying few VR experiences  I can say that I'm enthusiast to start this journey who I'm sure will make me even more marketable in the "real world."

This past week I tried the Samsung VR Gear, the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive, so I will provide a brief review of the three different experiences.

Samsung VR Gear

Samsung provides a pretty solid VR experience, also considering that the headset is not as high tech as its competitors. I only tried it on for a short commercial but the experience I had was positive. The sounds perfectly blend in with the visual and the range of vision is full. I also like the wireless component, which allows a wider range of motion. Obviously the screen resolution is not full HD but it doesn't take away from the overall experience. After  I put the Samsung VR gear on I was unable to see what surrounded me and the headphones helped to totally teleport me into a different world. Unfortunately,  I don't own a Samsung phone, so I wouldn't purchase the gear but I would definitely recommend it to all the people who wants a close-to-reality VR experience at affordable price.

Rating: 7/10

Oculus Rift

To be completely honest, I was disappointed with my first Oculus Rift experience. Maybe it was the video I watched, but  I was expecting more from company worth $2 billion. I tried a scene from the Lord of the Rings where a  I was sitting down on a canoe paddling down a river. Besides having to sit down for the entire time with the ability of only moving my head, every time  I tried to turn I there was a glitchy shaking which made the experience totally unrealistic. In addition,  I was able to see below the headset and hear what was going on around me, which made everything even worse. As I said, maybe it was only a one-time thing and I hope to have a better review for next time. However, for now I'm not satisfied with Oculus Rift.

Rating: 5/10

HTC Vive

Overall, the best experience I had so far. HTC Vive provides a high quality, high resolution VR experience with a wide range of entertainment. I tried a underwater experience and a painting 360 game. Seeing a whale swimming next to me felt extremely realistic and the whole scene around me made me feel like  I was really walking underwater. Only downside, the limited range of motion to walk from one side to the other of the shipwreck. The painting game was fun. HTC Vive comes with two hand controllers who in this case I used as paintbrush and to navigate the menu. I the game you have the possibility to use many different types of paint and effect which comes with different sound effects. In addition, the canvas is 360 degree so it's like painting and making shapes in the air, which adds up to the overall experience.

Rating: 9/10

These are my opinions on the VR experiences I had so far. Maybe they'll change over the course of the semester and obviously curious to learn even more about this fascinating world.