Facebook have been splashing out a lot of money lately! Although, we have to say, the $2 billion that they’ve spent on the Oculus Rift VR headset seems fairly affordable in the light of the $19 billion that went on messaging service WhatsApp. Bargain! But what is the Oculus Rift and what difference will it make to technology?  Is it just another one of those 'futuristic technology things' that will never take off, or are Mark Zuckerberg and co. really on to something this time?

Miley CyrusYou Could Watch A Live Miley Cyrus Gig, On Your Headset

Social Media/Virtual Interaction

The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality gaming headset developed by Oculus VR. The headset is being hailed as the future of technology, and we’ve gotta say, it looks like the Oculus Rift could totally redefine our virtual experience. The Oculus Rift will not only impact how we socialise via social media (there has been speculation that the Rift will allow you to virtually ‘meet up’ with your friends - we're not entirely sure about how we feel about that...very Wall-E, and look how that turned out for the human race!), it will also change the way that we watch movies, sports, television and music.

Gaming

No longer will you need to sit perched in front of your widescreen to feel immersed in your video games. The Rift was initially developed to enhance the gaming experience and it sounds like it will revolutionise it entirely. Oculus VP of Product Nate Mitchell explained, “We have a demo where you’re standing on the edge of a cliff and your knees actually lock up subconsciously.” Not the faint hearted then, eh?!  Sounds like an idea to get your heart checked before any intense video gaming.

Music

You live in Lithuania but your favorite band is playing in Rio? Not a problem. With the Oculus Rift music fans should one day be able to watch gigs from your own living room with the impression that you’re right in the middle of the mosh pit. Be gone, rowdy mosh pit injuries!

Movies

The way we watch movies looks set to potentially change forever once the Oculus Rift has found its footing. How many times have you thought that you would like to focus on something other than the main action in a movie, despite the director trying to divert your attentions elsewhere? Well, with the Oculus Rift you can be in charge of recasting movies.

You can currently order the Ocular Rift Development Kit from the Oculus VR website, retailing at $350. It’s set to launch in Summer 2014 and there’s already about 170 games which will support the headset, including Interstellar Marines, Vendetta Online, War Thunder and The Witness.

Will you be pre-ordering an Oculus Rift headset or giving Sony’s new VR headset “Project Morpheus” a go instead?

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