Oculus just kicked off an experiment in social VR
Last night, the Facebook-owned company made a splashy case that VR still stands a chance of going mainstream.
The news: About 9,000 people watched Australian singer Vance Joy rock the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado last night, but many more experienced the performance. That’s because Joy’s concert was the first to be broadcast by Oculus’s new VR app, Venues.
A first: Previous live broadcasts in VR allowed only small crowds to interact. Last night’s concert marked the first time viewers of a live event were able to join and talk with large numbers of other digital event-goers.
How it went: There were a few connection issues, but for the most part the system operated as planned. Attendees chatted with their virtual seat neighbors and sang along to the music. But it was still evident that VR just can’t match the thrill of physically attending a live event.
Deep Dive
Humans and technology
Human-plus-AI solutions mitigate security threats
With the right human oversight, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence can help keep business and customer data secure
Merging physical and digital tools to build resilient supply chains
Using unique product identifiers and universal standards in the supply chain journey, the whole enterprise can unlock extended value
Unlocking the value of supply chain data across industries
How global standards and unique identifiers are turning supply chain data into a game-changer
Transformation requires companywide engagement
Employees need to be heard for leaders to overcome the hurdles of organizational change
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.