VR & U with Amber Osborne

We have a special guest today. We keep hearing about AR and VR, but do we really understand it? The technology is emerging, and there are so many facets that we could talk about, so we thought we would bring in an expert on VR. Amber Osborne is the CMO of a Doghead Simulations product called rumii which is a virtual reality meeting and education platform.

Amber explains the differences of AR and VR, and she shares why she thinks 2019 is going to be the year of VR. The technology behind standalone headsets is improving while the prices are coming down. As this technology gets into the hands of more people, the endless possibilities start becoming apparent. We talk about immersive learning applications, how meetings can be more focused and productive, and how game opportunities are already available.

We also talk about travel, relaxation, meditation, and possibilities with VR. From enterprise solutions to personal use, there are VR solutions that will only grow and become better with time. We also talk about immersive music and theater opportunities using VR. This is an eye opening interview that barely scratches the surface of the upcoming possibilities VR will provide.

Show Notes

• [02:17] VR is when you are immersed in an environment outside of your reality. AR is the augmentation of your current reality. Pokemon Go is augmented reality. Virtual reality is a more immersive experience.
• [03:30] AR can be really helpful with technical training.
• [04:50] A great example of augmented reality would be Rocky Horror Picture Show where you wouldn't have real hot dogs thrown at you.
• [05:28] Amber works for a company called Doghead Simulations and they have a VR product called rumii.
• [05:34] It's like a virtual realty office or classroom. Remote workers also use it for business meetings.
• [06:23] Parsons Design School is bringing VR into their classrooms.
• [07:32] You need a headset for a VR meeting. When you get into rumii everyone has an avatar, and you can use your headset to control things like hand gestures. There are also eye tracking sensors.
• [10:25] They try to keep their avatars away from the thing they call Uncanny Valley where everything's made to look so real that it actually looks really strange.
• [11:54] Immersion in a meeting will make it much easier to pay attention.
• [13:45] Amber thinks 2019 is the year people are going to start embracing VR especially with the new standalone headsets that are coming out.
• [14:23] Oculus Quest is going to be a game changer for consumers. VR is going to be much more accessible and people will have experiences in VR with applications and films.
• [16:35] The biggest roadblock to mainstream VR so far is the price point.
• [18:19] Doghead is doing a project with a Harvard Egyptology class where they are guiding a VR tomb.
• [19:23] They've also been involved in a lot of language learning. VR can be an immersive experience for language learning.
• [21:59] VR was used to connect a classroom with a remote island in Tanzania. The use of this technology is limitless like the human imagination.
• [23:56] Virtual reality can connect the world in ways that it has never been done before. We will be able to interact without boundaries.
• [25:50] A lot of people are looking for an escape and virtual reality can offer that.
• [28:26] VR can be another way to communicate and escape. Once people try it, the ideas begin to flow. Amber feels this is a once in a lifetime technology game changer.
• [32:00] As the technology gets easier to use, we will see more people using it.
• [33:02] There are applications in social VR where you can have meetups and networking.
• [34:03] Enhancing networking with VR can be impressive for people building businesses.
• [34:27] There are also amazing meditation and relaxation apps. Businesses can have rooms with headsets for meditation.
• [39:36] Experiences that will wow people will be tailored to their wants and needs. We can have experiences that we normally wouldn't be able to have. The common entry point that people will be able to understand is probably video games.
• [42:35] Most headset manufacturers have their own version of app stores. An Oculus user can talk to a Vive user. You can also interact with mobile.
• [45:08] VR is going to change movie and theater to experiences. Sundance has taken content creators under their wings.

Links and Resources:

• Doghead Simulations
• @dogheadsims on Twitter
• @rumiiVR on Twitter
• Doghead Simulations Facebook Page
• The New School Parsons
• Oculus Quest
• AltspaceVR
• Beat Saber
• Oculus Gear VR
• Vive
• Sleep No More
• The Best VR and AR of the Sundance Film Festival

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