During the Samsung Galaxy S7 presentation at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) on Feb. 21, audience members using virtual reality headsets fail to realize that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has entered the venue. (Photo: Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook profile)
Experiencing a virtual reality, like being able to enjoy the thrill of a live concert from the comfort of your home, is no longer a dream of the future. It is happening now.
Virtual reality (VR) is the buzzword on everyone's minds at the 2016 Mobile World Congress (MWC) currently underway in Barcelona, Spain.
On Feb. 21, Samsung Electronics held its Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2016 event and revealed its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge. The conglomerate also showcased the Gear 360, a ball-shaped camera for 360 degree photos and videos. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance at the event, to the delight of all those in attendance.
On Feb. 22 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), visitors stop by Samsung Electronics' Gear VR Theater With 4-D booth where they try on Oculus head gear and enjoy the experience of virtual reality. (Photo: Samsung Newsroom Flickr)
At the event, Zuckerberg said, "Virtual reality will become the central platform of the next generation." He said that he would "combine Samsung's mobile hardware with Facebook's VR software to create the world's best version of virtual reality." By uniting Facebook's social media platform with Samsung's hardware, Zuckerberg is making efforts to lead a second mobile revolution.
On Feb. 22 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, visitors try out the LG 360 VR headsets at the LG Electronics booth. (Photo: LG Electronics Flickr)
LG Electronics also announced its new lineup of VR gear at the Mobile World Congress. It debuted its new smartphone, the LG G5, its companion, the LG 360 VR headset, and the LG 360 CAM, which allows users to create 360-degree content.
Compared to other products, the LG 360 VR headset is more efficiently designed and can be connected directly to the G5. The headset also weighs only 18 grams, a third of the weight of similar products on the market.
As virtual reality moves beyond the realm of visual experiences and into fields as diverse as medicine, construction and tourism, experts predict that VR usage will only increase in the years to come. The International Data Cooperation (IDC), a global IT consulting firm, announced on Feb. 23 that it predicts the Chinese VR technology market to expand this year by 476 percent over last year's figures.
By Jeon Han, Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr
