Could VR Be the Solution to Future Home Cinema Experiences?

Virtual reality has been a mixed bag in reaching the potential it’s so broadly advertised. Some uses have constantly failed to deliver, but there are others where the technology offers hugely impressive solutions. Home cinema is one of these positive examples, providing an experience beyond what traditional at-home solutions can impart. There could be a real future here, and it might be closer than you think.

The VR Advantage

The biggest advantage of VR is also the most obvious one – it can completely fake anything in front of you. While these don’t cover your complete field of view, they have been expanding viewable areas as the generations advance. For reference, the original breakout VR device, the Oculus Rift, featured horizontal and vertical fields of views of 110 and 90 respectively. More modern systems like the Pimax Vision 5K Super, as noted at Tom’s Hardware, manage to hit 200 and 150 respective FOVs.

“Daydream View VR Headseet Made By Google” (CC BY 2.0) by Maurizio Pesce

Though anything outside of this area might as well be blindered, anything within this space then emulated real space. This could start with simply browsing the internet on an enormous monitor, like checking out what’s available from an NJ casino app. Here your display could be the size of an entire wall, as you collect bonuses and promotions, play slots and table games, and otherwise enjoy what you would on a smaller screen on an enormous display.

In movies and TV, the advantages come from emulating screens of any size. This means your VR screen could dwarf anything measured in real life by the Guinness World Records, even if you have a wall three meters in front of you. From classic films in the Criterion Collection to the newest hits on digital, combining VR with quality headphones will be as close as many of us will come to owning a cinema of our own.

Not for Everyone

As great as this tech is, it’s still not a perfect solution for all users. Firstly, a VR headset is a personal system that is only good for one user at a time. This isn’t a problem if you love to watch alone, but it doesn’t exactly make for a great communal experience. VR can also be complicated to set up if you’re not technologically inclined.

Some users might also feel discomfort with VR, as it causes eye strain or nausea if used over long periods. These issues are being addressed with newer technology, but some might find the problems inescapable, especially if you suffer from poor eyesight. There’s also the immense challenge of eating popcorn while not being able to see what’s on your lap, an unforgivable roadblock for some enthusiasts.

“Worlds Within” (CC BY 2.0) by wwward0

For the right person with the right need (and the money to spend), VR headsets will become a perfect home cinema solution. The rest of us should also pay attention here, even if we’re not interested in other uses for VR systems. VR doesn’t just represent a small step in home entertainment, it’s an enormous leap that could fundamentally reshape how we engage with what we love.