Defying Reality
The Inside Story of the Virtual Reality Revolution
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
A fascinating exploration of the history, development, and future of virtual reality, a technology with world-changing potential, written by award-winning journalist and author David Ewalt, stemming from his 2015 Forbes cover story about the Oculus Rift and its creator Palmer Luckey.
You’ve heard about virtual reality, seen the new gadgets, and read about how VR will be the next big thing. But you probably haven’t yet realized the extent to which this technology will change the way we live. We used to be bound to a physical reality, but new immersive computer simulations allow us to escape our homes and bodies. Suddenly anyone can see what it’s like to stand on the peak of Mount Everest. A person who can’t walk can experience a marathon from the perspective of an Olympic champion. And why stop there? Become a dragon and fly through the universe. But it’s not only about spectacle. Virtual and augmented reality will impact nearly every aspect of our lives—commerce, medicine, politics—the applications are infinite.
It may sound like science fiction, but this vision of the future drives billions of dollars in business and is a top priority for such companies as Facebook, Google, and Sony. Yet little is known about the history of these technologies. In Defying Reality, David M. Ewalt traces the story from ancient amphitheaters to Cold War military laboratories, through decades of hype and failure, to a nineteen-year-old video game aficionado who made the impossible possible. Ewalt looks at how businesses are already using this tech to revolutionize the world around us, and what we can expect in the future. Writing for a mainstream audience as well as for technology enthusiasts, Ewalt offers a unique perspective on VR. With firsthand accounts and on-the-ground reporting, Defying Reality shows how virtual reality will change our work, our play, and the way we relate to one another.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Forbes contributing editor Ewalt (Of Dice and Men) charts the history of virtual reality and projects the future of the technology in this solid overview. Ewalt builds a strong case that one day virtual reality will be as ubiquitous as television and upend a wide variety of industries in addition to entertainment, such as retail and health care. The bulk of the book focuses on the Oculus Rift VR headset and explains why it has endured while attempts by tech companies such as Sony, Google, and HTC haven't found large audiences for a mix of reasons related to timing and design. Basing his account on interviews with Oculus founder and former CEO Palmer Luckey, Ewalt discusses Luckey's childhood interest in video game systems and science fiction movies, and how those influenced his early prototypes. The descriptions of the breadth of VR experiences fantastic environments, films, pornography will draw readers in. This breezy foray into an emerging technology is like a beach book for tech enthusiasts it's quick and never dull.