Virtual Reality Home Entertainment

Technology has brought virtual worlds into our computers for many years. Soon, vr will be in our living rooms.

The underground effort that has been an experimental fantasy for decades is becoming more mainstream. VRGs are headed to your game system!

VRGs or VR glasses (also known as Virtual Reality goggles) takes home entertainment and gaming to the next level.

The 3D simulated world once embedded on your computer monitor becomes a living world that consumes you instead. 3D graphic virtual reality is a reality.

Virtual reality glasses have improved in quality, become lighter and cheaper over the past decade as virtual reality technology and software also has advanced.

Wireless options allow you to roam the room with your headset. Almost all units plug into computers, DVDs and TVs.

The option for a Stereo 3D input is now available with Apple's latest in the line of Intel Xenon driven processors.

When a NVIDIA Quardo FX 4500 graphics card - with 512MB - is added, a pair of stereo glasses or goggles can be plugged in for better viewing of 3D images. The card is a dual-link DVI so two monitors can be connected. But, most can only be viewed over a CRT (H-synch of 126kHz) not a LCD monitor, unless 3D goggles are attached.

Stereo 3D is one step into the world of virtual reality. When connected to a video source, with the correct software, amazing entertainment should be right around the corner. This market will probably first be driven by adult entertainment, then enhanced video games, then the major film industry.

Apple's Quicktime VR lets users interact with images on their computers. With a mouse, an image can be rotated and turned 360 degrees. This software comes in two parts. Quicktime VR Authoring kit provides the tools to make 3D objects and Quicktime VR viewer lets the user manipulate the object in real time. The viewer software is free from Apple computers. The authoring software is for sale.

Virtual reality goggles, 3D glasses and other VR gear is the next chapter in home entertainment. Imagine playing a video game inside the game itself instead of staring into a TV screen or monitor. Imagine the scientific possibilities as it becomes more afforable and accessible.

When researching a good pair of goggles, make sure you know the difference between goggles that only enlarge a TV image and one that actual provides a true 3D view.

While more expensive models incorporate 3D technology, the basic models only enhance the viewing area to the size of a super-large screen TV.

Entertainment Magazine is purchasing a 3Ghz MacPro this fall and will put the 3D option to use in our office for testing and review. Since we are Macintosh based, and will be using the new MacPro, our research and postings will lean towards Mac-compatible products.

Check back this fall for updates to our online research for suitable goggles and unique links to sites that help you to better understand 3D, virtual reality and new technologies. We also plan to explore how to incorporate this new technology into our site and to enhance our free movie section.