If you can imagine a world where characters like Goku from Dragon Ball Z come to life to interact with the reader in a fierce battle to save Planet Vegeta then you may begin to understand the lure of Virtual Reality (VR).
A Holosuite is the extreme version of VR rooms where holograms and real life characters meet in the physical space. These are of course fictional and based on the TV series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Crew members docked at the space station use Holodecks for entertainment during free time. Players combine story decks to create new characters and to expand on the story lines making for a truly immersive and realistic experience. Travelling aboard a spaceship for decades might be boring if there was nowhere to go on vacation. If Gene Roddenberry taught us anything it is that with technology, “humanity can boldly go where no one has gone before.”Â
E-reading headsets like Oculus and Sol may have already brought the idea of a Holosuite closer to reality than we think. In fact, Heather Culbertson and Shanram Ghandeerharizadeh, researchers at USC have been experimenting with 3D drones that emulate the experience using lighting and AI digital content. While in its infancy, anything is possible for the future if we continue to combine technologies. Who knows where the future of reading will bring us? It has already brought us here.
Virtual Rooms are the new craze.
They may not be as realistic but virtual reality rooms are popping up everywhere and have become a popular way to spend a night out with family and friends. Each room has a theme of its own complete with the sound and decor to match. Participants are encouraged to wear costumes and bring props to add a more realistic feel to the event. The rooms are safe and allow players to do just about anything. If chasing and killing zombies, solving crimes or smashing cars is your jam then VR may be your next favourite past time.
The technology is not quite there yet but every day it is moving a little bit closer to perfection.
Themed VR rooms do not offer a whole lot of customizations, the gear is still expensive and the content is not as dynamic or flexible as it should be. To create a truly immersive experience the content will have to allow readers to alter the storylines and develop characters in the same way gamers add arsenal to their toolboxes.Â
One thing is for certain, in time AI will revolutionize the digital reading experience with virtual reality and a lot of imagination.
What will your holodeck story consist of?
Mine, well that is a story for another day. It will consist of a whole lot of coffee shops and a few trips to Europe.
Writing has always been her passion and a voice for those who cannot speak. She considers herself fortunate to write every day and says her mantra is, "I drink coffee, write, and I know about people and technology." Her writing is diverse and can be found online on websites like LifeHack, You Have a Calling, Medium, TechCrunch and, She Knows.
