The use of Virtual Reality (VR) in home consoles started in 1993 by Sega. They created a VR headset to be used on the Sega Genesis and they had four games for the product. This device was going to run for about $200 at the time but they had many technical difficulties. So many that the device remained a prototype and was never released. In 94, Sega released VR-1 which was an arcade motion simulator that moves in accordance with what’s on the screen. The next device was created by Nintendo and it was the Virtual Boy in 95. This device was priced at $180, portable but the graphics were limited to, two colors; which were red and black. Fast forward in 2014 Meta purchased Oculus; which was a company that developed VR devices.
Meta looks to expand its VR offerings, into their Metaverse; which is a virtual world where people can explore and interact using their devices. The use of VR products would make the Metaverse more accessible and immersive.
Companies have been trying to make VR for public use for years, but have not been successful due to technical difficulties, the size of the device, price, and even the VR output. However, Meta may have what it takes to finally make VR a reality for everyone. One of the latest expansions they are working on is called Project Cambria.
Project Cambria is an ambitious new project from Meta that aims to bring virtual reality to a wider audience. Cambria will overlay digital images onto the real world, making VR more practical and accessible. With their Quest 2 device selling over 9 million units, Meta is hoping to replicate that success with Project Cambria.
Virtual Reality has been around since 1838. It started with stereoscopic photos which gave the user the sense of depth and immersion. It was created by Charles Wheatstone. It has been 184 years and the technology still has not been perfected but maybe there will be a break through in this life time.