Technology is developing at breakneck speed, with digital experiences becoming increasingly immersive. Consumers will spend $5 billion on virtual reality (VR) technology by 2018, says consulting company Kzero and Digi-Capital and Gartner expect 25 million users by 2018 — putting overall spending as high as $10 billion.
There are many reasons for the growing appeal of the virtual world. Virtual reality can be enjoyed in any location—from the restaurant, the park or the comfort of one’s home—without wires linking the headset with a console. Virtual reality headsets also let users move freely in a safe environment. Users can enjoy films, gaming, and other experiential content without encountering any of the risks of the real world.
Billed as a new way to live differently, virtual reality is bringing new experiences and stories to people around the world. In association with Oculus, Samsung recently brought groundbreaking VR technology to the masses, with the launch of the Gear VR in the Gulf region. The Gear VR series is relatively affordable and uses your smartphone to load content with free applications. The latest Gear VR for the Samsung Galaxy S6 is compatible with both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge.
Samsung recently partnered with Marvel to pay tribute to the iconic characters in the recent film Avengers: Age of Ultron through a VR-focused marketing campaign dedicated to providing fans with the most engaging viewing experience. Samsung has also released a short game that gives users superpowers and allows them to adopt personas of popular Marvel characters Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, the Hulk, Captain America and Hawkeye in a glorious movie-like environment.
Yet movies are just the beginning of a whole era of such engagement. The gaming industry is equally adept at creating simulating environments. Offering a 96-degree field-of-view, Samsung’s Gear VR envelopes users in a 360-degree video environment. Increasingly, the applications are not limited to games and movies, but also touch on science, with developers creating VR environments and experiences like never before. Simply by downloading the Oculus Tour application on the S6 and S6 edge users get the chance to go on a virtual safari or explore Hawaii through a virtual sightseeing tour among other mesmerizing experiences.
