Chris Dixon wrote a great post discussing what’s next in the computing industry. Historically, there’s…
Entrepreneurship
There’s a lot of discussion these days about what the next breakout computing platform will be: wearables, the Internet of Things, Bitcoin, VR/AR, or something else that we haven’t heard about yet? I think VR/AR is a strong candidate, since it feels like a logical extension of our current computing platforms. Previous VR/AR attempts have […]
Chris Dixon wrote a great post discussing what’s next in the computing industry. Historically, there’s…
Since its launch a few weeks ago, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has captured the imagination of users,…
There’s a lot of discussion these days about what the next breakout computing platform will be: wearables, the Internet of Things, Bitcoin, VR/AR, or something else that we haven’t heard about yet?
I think VR/AR is a strong candidate, since it feels like a logical extension of our current computing platforms. Previous VR/AR attempts have failed because the technology wasn’t ready yet. However, we’re now seeing some good (albeit early) evidence that hardware and software are both advanced enough to deliver a solid VR/AR experience.
There’s already a strong early adoption of Virtual Reality in gaming and entertainment. At this year’s Sundance, nine of the thirteen submissions in the New Frontier program featured VR. Oculus’ Story Studio released its first short, Lost, and plans to put out four more VR cinema experiences this year. And the Virtual Reality documentary, Project Syria, is showing VR’s powerful ability to affect us emotionally by letting us walk in someone else’s shoes.
VR dramatically enhances the experience in both gaming and entertainment applications. And unlike the challenges facing Google Glass adoption, it’s socially acceptable to wear a bulky VR headset in the privacy of your own home or theater.
Beyond gaming and entertainment, we’re also seeing practical applications for VR as well, including trauma treatment and education. Using Microsoft’s HoloLens, scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will soon be exploring Mars using holograms of Mars Rover images. They’ll be able to work as if they’re walking right on the surface of Mars.
The future outlook for VR/AR
While I’m bullish on Virtual and Augmented Reality, some key questions need to be answered:
It is still very early times for AR / VR and it will be exciting to watch this space over the coming years.
Portfolio
Robotics has been a core focus of my time in deep tech. I recently wrote a post sharing our considerations on robotics and we’ve made three investments in the category within the past year, including Optimotive. Today, I am thrilled to be able to share the news that we’ve led the $5m seed round of […]
There’s a talent drain facing the tech industry today. We frequently hear about companies that…
We are very happy to announce our investment in Manifold, the easiest way to find…