At this year’s annual VRLA, which took place this past weekend from May 4-5 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, immersive technology moved a step forward. The “world’s largest immersive technology expo” brought over 180 of the latest and greatest companies in immersive technology to downtown LA to showcase their newest offerings – it was definitely great to see how much the industry has grown over the past couple of years.
Big names present included Intel, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Dell. Intel’s exhibit was especially a big hit as many lined up to experience the “Future Classroom.” Done in partnership with the Smithsonian using Linden Labs’ Sansar VR social platform, groups of attendees were transported to a virtual classroom which allowed a lecturer from another location to teach about some of the artifacts up close and personal.
Neurogaming, a company whose immersive experience created a massive line in the middle of the convention floor with their PolygonVR setup in collaboration with Exit Reality, was one of the most talked-about installations. Although it was an attendee hot spot, unfortunately not many got to try it because of the wait times (from 2-4 hours long). But for those who did, they gave rave reviews. What made the experience unique was its wireless full-body motion tracking and haptic controllers that connected players in the space with other remote players from all over the world. The experience also featured live feedback from objects and the environment to immerse players even further.
Many of the exhibitors this year seemed to focus more on XR or Cross Reality, social interaction, sensory experiences, and developing better storytelling. It is not just about adding the VR and AR aspect for the cool factor anymore. Instead, developers are aiming to add value to the user experience by pushing beyond the limitations of conventional reality.