Santa cruz
Two main problems with full-fledged modern virtual reality helmets are bulkiness and, of course, price. A person who wants to buy a helmet will not only have to pay $ 700 for the device itself, but also assemble a powerful computer - and it will cost even more. Considering that there are few really decent programs and games “for every day”, such expenses, unfortunately, do not look justified.
Helmets for smartphones in this regard are preferable: they are quite cheap, lightweight and compact, do not require any wires - but without a phone inside they are absolutely useless.
Oculus' new development is somewhere in between these two types of devices. It does not require a connection to a computer or smartphone or additional wires - and the computer is installed inside the helmet itself. The image is rendered by the helmet itself, and systems that determine the location in space are built into it, so a person can walk freely with the device on his head. Most importantly, the Santa Cruz will be, according to Zuckerberg, significantly cheaper than a full-fledged Oculus.
The helmet is still in the prototype stage and information on the timing of its release has not been announced. In addition to the compact headset, a compact VR headphone was announced for $ 49.
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Oculus Touch
Oculus Rift owners are not yet able to interact with objects in virtual reality using their hands: they can only turn their heads or play games using an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 4 controller. On December 6, everything promises to change. Oculus Touch - new controllers for the Rift. They are worn on both hands and track their movements. On stage, Zuckerberg played chess and billiards with his colleagues in real time, drew a “sword” in the air and could fence with it, and also moved with them to another location.
Communication of people in virtual reality is what Zuckerberg primarily thinks about as the founder of the largest social network in the world. This is why virtual avatars were created.
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Virtual avatars
An avatar is your protégé in the virtual world. You can completely customize his appearance: skin color, facial features, accessories like glasses and scarves.
Zuckerberg has said more than once that virtual reality is a platform that will replace the now dominant mobile. And, of course, it will build Facebook in the coming years.
The first two services that will actively use virtual avatars are Parties and Oculus Rooms. In the first, people will be able to communicate and play with each other, in the second, they can watch videos and films together on a large virtual screen.
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What's next?
More than two years have passed since the purchase of Oculus, and finally on Oculus Connect 3 we were shown exactly what Facebook is working on and how exactly virtual reality will be integrated into it. The prospects are really exciting: the opportunity not only to see with your own eyes a person who is on the other side of the world, but also to interact with him - to play chess and billiards, exchange photos in real time - promises to open a second wind to VR helmets.
Who can immerse the world in virtual reality if not the owner of the world's main social network?>