Is 3D The Real Reason Virtual Reality Is So Great?

Immersive. Emotional. It feels like you’re really there. Like being somewhere else without leaving your living room. Yes, virtual reality evokes a feeling of disconnect from reality. But what is the real catalyst of this emotion? Maybe it all boils down to 3D?

The original 3D “red/blue” glasses — circa 1950s.

For something to be called “virtual reality”, there has typically only been two real parameters considered. First, you are fully immersed in the environment — that is, you can only see the content provided to you — and second, you need to somehow be able to interact with that environment.

What is rarely considered as required for “virtual reality” is presentation in three dimensions.

After all, even if you’re looking at a “virtual desktop” your computer screen is still “floating” in front of you.

Virtual Desktop. It’s 3D … but … is it?

I mean, you can have 180 or 360 degree videos to watch on a VR headset — but if they aren’t in 3D, they sure are lacking a lot (if you have a VR headset and have never watched a “flat 360” video, try it out).

Almost like … not virtual reality at all.