Guest Post: Dave Arendash of MindVR on the Importance of Immersion in Virtual Reality
VR is the next, perhaps last, medium. We are just beginning to understand how to make content. Some of it is interactive, some is passive, but it's best when it's immersive. And you get that best when it's at least stereoscopic. We are finally able to capture life the way it's seen. We are using the newest technology to record the oldest forms of communication and entertainment, such as live theatre.
MindVR (and CloserVR Studios) main focus is the 'close in' space. VR is more than just 360 degrees. Without depth, there is no connection. Parallax provides that depth. And parallax is most compelling within 8 feet or less of the viewer. This is also what is commonly known as our 'personal space'.
Our visual and audio processing is wired directly into the primitive part of the brain. It's where fight-or-flight happens. Also empathy. So we are dealing with more than just a 3D space, we're dealing with an emotional space, which no other medium has ever been able to do. And because we are able in influence how people feel like never before, we're on new ground with how people will respond to it. I think caution is prudent. If you're out to really scare someone, you may cause some real harm. Lawyer up!
I am also currently a Technical Architect Manager at Accenture in their Emerging Technology's 'Wearables and AR' group, working on AR solutions for enterprise.
-Dave Arendash, @ThatVRGuy on Twitter
MindVR & CloserVR Studios: http://www.mindvr.com/
Blog: http://www.davearendash.com/
