Essential Install | Virtual Reality
Could Cinera be the first VR headset to replace the home cinema ?
The HTC Vive has quickly become one of the world ’ s most popular VR headsets , thanks to its advanced motion tracking end of 2016 , an estimated 243,000 Oculus Rift headsets had been sold , although despite its fame , this pales in comparison to some of the competition .
Despite its struggles , Oculus is now owned by Facebook – giving it the investment that it needs to keep fuelling its R & D . That should hopefully mean that the technology isn ’ t just a fad anymore , and should have some staying power . Facebook can only fund Oculus for so long , however , and consumers have yet to be convinced that they need a VR headset in their life . The Oculus Rift has already received a sizeable price cut to just over £ 400 in the hopes that it will be more easily accessible to the masses .
The price cut may be a painful pill for Oculus to swallow , but it now means that installers can try out the technology without having to make a massive investment . The technology could also prove an invaluable tool in selling a standard home cinema installation .
VR In The Home Cinema
“ Virtual reality most definitely has a place in the home cinema arena ,” notes Jason Lovell , former senior product manager , Samsung VR . “ The technology is really taking off and film and video entertainment will be key part of VR ’ s direction moving forward as the industry grows and the technical capabilities of VR evolve with it .”
That ’ s a bold statement to make , but if anyone knows the direction of VR , it ’ s Jason . He formerly led Samsung ’ s VR department , while now he ’ s the director of brand partnerships for what is widely regarded as the Netflixcum-GoPro of virtual reality , Jaunt VR .
Jaunt VR is in the business of delivering cinematic experiences . It has partnered with a large number of brands , including Warner Bros , Los Angeles Times and Disney to create unique videos for enjoying on a VR headset . The company has also produced many of its own original films , although the vast majority of these have still been short clips lasting a maximum of five minutes .
That ’ s an issue that the industry will have to overcome , will users really want to sit and watch a film with a headset on their face for a full two hours ? As of right now , it would appear as if the answer is no – with the longest dedicated VR content ever made boasting a runtime of just 40 minutes . That ’ s hardly going to be a replacement for the traditional home theatre , where films are often played for hours at a time .
The VR Headset For The Cinema Buff
While the consensus appears to be against feature-length VR films , there are some brands that envision a day where consumers everywhere will be donning a pair of goggles to watch the latest Star Wars flick . One such company is Cinera . This Kickstarter-backed project has envisioned a product that solves some of the most common issues involving VR headsets – particularly the weight it puts on the wearer ’ s head . Instead of requiring a user to wear the Cinera headset , the device itself is attached to an ergonomic hands-free arm .
At first it looks a little comical , but once the headset is on , users will experience something that is typically reserved for an IMAX theatre . It ’ s no surprise that it gives that experience , as this is a headset exclusively designed for replacing the traditional home cinema – and it ’ s the first one that might actually work .
While the Oculus Rift , HTC Vive and the like all offer great immersion , those headsets are built for 360 ° viewing . The majority of feature-length films don ’ t need that freedom , which is why Cinera is limited to a screen with a 66 ° field-of-view . This is still more than the standard field of view a user will get in a commercial cinema , which is typically limited to just 54 °.
It ’ s not just immersion users will get from Cinera , they also receive impressive visual . A 5K screen is included as standard , while special technology ensures that images are crisp . With a pixel per degree ( PPD ) measurement of 39 the Cinera ’ s imagery is much sharper than that of its competitors – with the Oculus Rift getting just 11.5 PPD and the HTC Vive boasting a paltry 9.8 PPD .
Cinera ’ s goal is to ‘ combine the immersive magic of the cinema with the individual experience today ’ s mobile devices offer ’, according to its CEO and founder , Peter Lin . He admits that there ’ s still a lot to do to perfect the technology , however . Stating that it typically takes industries years , even a decade , for it to go mainstream .
The End of the Home Cinema ?
One would think that Cinera is the end of the home cinema , but it doesn ’ t have to be that way . There ’ s still little agreement amongst any of the industry insiders as to whether VR can be a suitable replacement for the traditional home cinema experience .
Jason from Jaunt is one person who doesn ’ t see it as a complete replacement . “ We see VR as an accompaniment to home cinema , not as an alternative – they provide unique entertainment experiences , and people can enjoy both depending what mood they ’ re in ,” he comments . “ Just like people got used to wearing headphones , having a mobile phone and wearing a smartwatch , I believe that wearing a VR headset will become commonplace in the future .”
50 | September 2017