Parisi - Learning virtual reality: developing immersive experiences and applications for desktop, web, and mobile

by Tony Parisi

Copyright 2016 Tony Parisi. All rights reserved.

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978-1-491-92283-5

[LSI]

Virtual reality has captured the worlds imagination. Over the last few years, developers and enthusiasts in the thousands have devoted countless hours to coding, designing, and speculating about the possibilities of this exciting new medium. Affordable hardware systems like the Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, and Google Cardboard VR allow consumers to experience virtual reality firsthand in the comfort of their homes, in a cafe, or on the train to work. Press coverage has reached beyond the trade press and blogosphere to mainstream publications extolling the virtues of VR, and the possibilities seem endless: from gaming and cinema to architecture, education, training, and medicine. Even though it has a long way to go, virtual reality appears poised to become the next major entertainment medium, and perhaps even the computing platform of the future.

I first tried an Oculus Rift in the summer of 2013. I was, to put it bluntly, underwhelmed. The graphics of the original development kit (the so-called DK1) were low-res by todays standards, and I lasted about 10 minutes before the nausea kicked inwhich, according to my friend Dave, was an impressive display of endurance. I put the device aside, grumbled not ready, staggered back to work, and didnt give the matter much thought again until nine months later, when the tech industry was set on its ear by the announcement that social media giant Facebook had acquired Oculus VR, the makers of the Rift. Like many of my peers, I was stunned. Also, like many of my peers, I decided to jump right in and start developing something in VR.

Since the watershed Oculus acquisition, the industry has invested millions in developing applications, content, tools, display hardware, video capture systems, and peripherals. Big tech players are already staking out their turf, making bets on what the future will look like with respect to distribution channels, killer apps, and such, and creating platforms and ecosystems to align with their visions. Developers of all shapes and sizes are flocking to VR, some out of genuine excitement for a new medium with great potential, and others preparing to take advantage of what could be the next tech boom after mobile. However it all ultimately shakes out, being a VR developer promises to be an exciting ride.

Every journey begins with a first step, and this book is here to set you on your path. Its not deep; the goal is to familiarize you with core programming concepts, and the innovations in hardware and software that have made VR possible. It is broad: we cover three of the major platforms, using three different development environments and as many programming languages. By the end, you should come away with the feeling that you understand the basics, and a desire to learn more.