Australian multimedia company Opaque Multimedia is using an Oculus Rift headset and a Microsoft Kinect 2 motion tracking system to make it possible for ordinary people to get a first-hand virtual reality taste of what it's like just outside the International Space Station, in a demo called Earthlight. This demo lets users explore the outside of the ISS as it orbits the Earth, although they're actually safe in the comfort of their living room.
Earthlight is designed to get you as close as possible to the real thing. For example, if you stick your hands out in front of your headset, you will see a space-gloved hand in the corresponding position. If you reach out to a handle on the International Space Station and tug on it, your virtual self will float forwards.
The Earthlight project shows how combining different technologies can help create amazing immersive experiences with both entertainment and educational applications.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Virtual Reality Space Exploration
- Companies can leverage virtual reality technology to provide immersive space exploration experiences that are both entertaining and educational.
- Motion Tracked Virtual Reality
- Motion tracking technology can be combined with virtual reality to create an even more immersive experience for users.
- Mixed Reality Entertainment
- The integration of virtual and real-world environments can create engaging and unique entertainment experiences.
Sectors Adopting This
- Entertainment
- The entertainment industry can capitalize on virtual reality space exploration experiences as a new way to engage audiences.
- Education
- Educators can use virtual reality technology to provide students with immersive and interactive space exploration lessons.
- Technology
- The development and integration of virtual reality and motion tracking technologies represents an exciting and disruptive innovation opportunity for the technology industry.
