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Tech Tuesday: 'Crystal Cove' Brings Virtual Reality Home

Sebastian Stabinger
/
Wikimedia Commons

A virtual reality headset that had people talking at the recent International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas could be coming to your living room next year.In this week’s Tech Tuesday, contributor Ryan Thompson sat down with our Melissa Ross to talk about the Oculus Rift "Crystal Cove" prototype.

“It’s even better than Lawnmower Man,” Thompson joked, referencing the 1992 techno-horror movie.

“In the past, virtual reality was kind of laggy, where you can get motion sickness or the resolution has been bad,” he said.

“Now, with Oculus, its 1080p and the headsets are tracking, so when you lean forward the camera's leaning forward.”

“You can play games, watch movies, do military applications, and the medical industry has huge things to benefit from being able to do virtual reality, especially with the kind that the industry is offering today.”

The Crystal Cove prototype won the Best of CES Award during this month’s 2014 convention, and industry insiders are speculating that the technology will be available early next year.

“The biggest thing is that with early adopters there are going to be upgrades and you see the same thing with every technological device such as an iPhone or a Blu-Ray player,” Thompson said of the technology.

“These devices will get upgraded and will continue to get better.”

WATCH: Engadget's hands-on video with the Oculus Rift "Crystal Cove" prototype

You can follow Melissa Ross on Twitter @MelissainJax and Cole Gordon @Cagordon33Cole.

Melissa Ross joined WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in broadcasting, including stints in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. During her career as a television and radio news anchor and reporter, Melissa has won four regional Emmys for news and feature reporting.
WJCT News Intern Cole Gordon is a communications major at the University of North Florida.