Welcome to "The Matrix"? Not quite, but new technologies are pushing ultra-convincing virtual realities out of the realm of science fiction and into the now. Some of this new tech was displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, including Crescent Bay, the latest prototype headset from Oculus Rift.
"We really try to trick all of your senses into believing that you're there," said Nate Mitchell, co-founder of Oculus, a start-up acquired last year by Facebook.
Considered among the most promising developers of virtual reality gear, Oculus says its next generation is even more immersive.
The new headset has improved ergonomics, optics and audio quality, and software that enables better head tracking to follow the user's movements.
With the headset on, you find yourself in a world with dinosaurs or extraterrestrials that seem real enough to touch. The image follows your movements when you look up, down or behind. Another key to the virtual world is enhancements in 3D sound, Mitchell told AFP.
"We have 3D audio in all these demos where you can hear sounds not only 360 degrees around you, but above you and below you," he said.
"After visual, audio is actually one of the major senses that humans use to perceive the world around them."
Some other exhibitors at CES were showing equipment for 3D sound, which according to developers goes far beyond normal stereo quality.
"For me to feel that something is real, you need more than just sight," said Dimitri Singer, co-founder of the French start-up 3D Sounds Lab, which was showing its 3D audio headphones.
"Sound is what bring emotion." By giving sounds that seem to come from different dimensions, start-ups like 3D Sounds Lab hope to provide a new immersive cinema-like experience for people watching films on a tablet or smartphone.
Singer said this technology can also bring immersive sound to other applications such as gaming.
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