Why you MIGHT care about Oculus Rift

If you play video games or are a tech junky in any form, then you probably know about Oculus Rift. Even if you aren't the type that pines for the next big gadget, you likely have heard its name or seen images of it in passing.

For those of you that are still completely in the dark, Oculus Rift is a virtual-reality headset. It has been most often demonstrated by enthusiasts and skeptics who don the gear and slip into a virtual world that responds to their head movement while they interact with a game controller. There is always a lot of jaw-dropping on behalf of the participant, while the rest of us viewers stare like we just watched the latest David Blaine stunt. We are really impressed even though we have no idea what we just saw.

But don't worry. Although we enthusiasts might be drinking the Kool-Aid, there is a part of our collective geek mentality that is thinking just like you. Oculus Rift kind of makes you look stupid. Now even those uber-nerds sporting the Google-Goggles have someone that they can point at and laugh. Oculus Rift looks like some sci-fi torture device from Flash Gordon. And yes, early feedback from some indicates that it can make you nauseous after wearing it for a while. But it might be worth it.

Each year, television manufacturers try to create new iterative and innovative technology to make you unsatisfied with what you have. They need you to want bigger and better. I have no problem with that. They hoped 3D would be their next holy grail, but it didn't really trend. Ever wonder why?

The novelty of 3D display has actually been around a long time. But from Jaws to (insert latest horror flick here), the effects have usually been overt and gimmicky. The cool 3D moment is often so staged that you are no longer immersed in the movie. You become aware of it. You suddenly remember you are wearing the world's most uncool sunglasses.

I recently saw Gravity in 3D (don't worry, no spoilers here). It was one of the few movies since Avatar where the 3D aspect of the film wasn't just a gimmick. It was a movie where distance and perspective were two uncredited lead characters in every scene. It actually helped make me feel more immersed in the story than less. When it ended, I felt a bit sad. Not because of the movie, but because at that moment it was forever gone. I'll never experience the film like that again outside the theater. In fact, I can't really experience any movie the way I can in a theater. It's likely a major factor why theaters still exist (outside of first-run rights). Movies in theaters are big—really big. Bigger than any TV that the manufacturers can sell me.

Oculus Rift might be the answer to that. While it currently is destined to be a gaming platform of sorts, it boasts the ability to span 110 degrees of your view. It’s almost like wearing an IMAX theater on your head. Almost. Imagine being able to watch the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or any number of your favorite movies become larger than life in your own personal theater. That kind of experience could bring the inner geek out in everyone.

As an added bonus, being able to watch movies might avoid some of Oculus Rift’s early user issues. Relaxing and leaning back in your most comfortable chair could virtually eliminate nausea and head strain.

To my knowledge, the ability to play media and not just games has not been discussed. But surely that ability is not difficult to include. If the movie industry were to back this, it could be a boon for them as well. The Oculus Rift is boasting the ability to display resolutions up to 4K. That’s much higher than any current Blu-Ray player can manage. I would now have a compelling reason to start rebuying my movie collection…again.

Oculus Rift.

Did I mention that it can do 3D?