Virtual reality is still in its early stages, but for Philip Rosedale, founder of Second Life, it’s about to create one of the biggest technological shifts in our lifetime. “VR disrupts human behaviour and it disrupts us as a species.” Speaking at WIRED2016, Rosedale gave the audience an exclusive first look at his new, interactive VR world, High Fidelity.
When the internet first began, it created a shift in human interaction and knowledge. Rosedale, who was working on the technology at the time, wasn't aware of the change that was coming. “We thought the internet was going to be an enormous library - and it was - but of course it was so much more. Those of us that were working on it believed we understood it, but we didn’t. That’s going to be the same with VR.”
After the internet came the smartphone, and those two innovations changed a huge number of industries. For Rosedale, VR is up next, and as soon as the technology becomes cheaper it will be core to disrupting and improving fundamental areas of our world - from socialising to education.
Rosedale gave two main reasons for this change. Firstly, when you consider drawing in 3 dimensions with a mouse with two degrees of freedom, it's nothing compared to VR, which gives the opportunity for 18 degrees of freedom. The second element is the ability to communicate with our hands, a key part of human interaction and something that VR can offer. “Disruptors have always been modifying communication,” explains Rosedale. VR, and specifically High Fidelity, can change this. “Billions of people will be making daily use of this technology in about ten years time.”
Showing the audience at WIRED2016 an exclusive demonstration of High Fidelity (as with most public performances that involve technology, there were a few glitches), Rosedale walked the audience through an adaptable world where it is possible to socialise with others who can also create their own worlds. The game's beta version was launched in April 2016.
WIRED Associate Editor Rowland Manthorpe spent a week with Rosedale earlier this year. “Like Second Life, High Fidelity will only succeed if people go there to play and meet and to build their own worlds,” he says. “When I was there the worlds were generally small – already you can see they’re getting much bigger. The idea behind High Fidelity is that to reach mass adoption VR will need to be social. It’s a compelling vision and if anyone can make it happen chances are it’s going to be Rosedale.”
Read more: Remember Second Life? Now it’s being reborn in virtual reality
So where is this all going? “The first place this is going to go is teaching. These headsets are expensive, but think about the impact of a kid who can be bought a $500 piece of equipment. Imagine children being able to sit in a circle and go on an exploration in the inside of the cell. Imagine students being able to look their teacher in the eye and ask them questions, and imagine how immersive and identical that experience is going to be. We can eliminate geographic distinctions in education."
Ultimately, Rosedale sees a future where socialising could largely take space in a virtual environment. “We are looking at a time where we are going to make the majority of our social contact in another world,” says Rosedale
“This isn’t a world for just a few people. It’s going to be technology that millions of people use.”
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
