Virtual reality has been considered a Star Trekian impossibility with no potential societal impact. Only the very rich or the very nerdy could get their hands on a VR head-mounted display. But now, thanks to engineers, entrepreneurs, and believers in the possibility of making virtual reality well,  a reality, this emerging technology is accessible and affordable to all.

Today on Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg on SiriusXM, our host spoke with Patrick Buckley, author of The Virtual Reality Beginners Guide and VR Smartphone Toolkit and Chief Dodo at DodoCase and Kevin Burke of TwentyMilliseconds.com about the newest creations and challenges in the virtual reality space.

On Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” VR experience: “It’s a cool new way to engage the audience.” —Patrick

“You have to be able to look in all directions when you make a film. It’s interesting to see a talented director like Christopher Nolan utilize this technology.” —Kevin

On Seattle as VR hub: “Tech hubs are based where the investors are.”—Kevin

“I like anyone who is trying to figure out new ways to use this media.”—Patrick

On Londoners signing away firstborn to use Wi-Fi hotspot: “I’m like the majority of people and never read the fine print.” “It gets people thinking about these things.” —Patrick

“The smartphone is virtual reality. It has sensors, screen resolution, software capabilities.”—Patrick

On the build-your-own toolkit: “It’s similar to a View Master from your childhood. Instead of having a still photo you have a screen.”—Patrick

Listener Alex called in from Highland Capital Partners, a global venture firm:

“We believe that VR is quickly becoming the next most exciting platform out there.”

“JAUNT is pioneering cinematic VR. Cinematic VR captures the real world and allows you to experience adventures. Augmented reality has started with Google Glass. That space is growing too.”—Alex

“Synthetic experiences are what game developers are working in VR.”—Alex

“VR allows you to sit in the front row of a Katy Perry show and feel like you’re there.”—Alex

“We think there’s going to be folks who you’ve never heard to make their name in the VR medium.”—Alex

“Google Cardboard brings the VR opportunity to a lot more people. Within the next year we should see a lot more devices and games come out.”—Kevin

“Jaunt creates an experience like IMAX on steroids.”—Patrick

“It’s always challenging to write about tech because it moves so quick. We wanted to give people a teaser of what’s possible.”—Patrick

“The transitions in media formats have changed over the years, each one developing faster than the other.”—Patrick

On limits in VR: “Engineering challenges come from all directions. “—Kevin

“If the screen doesn’t update fast enough you can get sick.”—Kevin

“Messing with the horizon, low frame rate—if a game isn’t responsive enough can cause sickness.”—Kevin

“Graphics and processing together aren’t really working together right now to not make people sick.”—Kevin

“What’s possible with today’s technology already, like cinematic VR, is not needing to move your head quickly. This can solve the problem.”—Patrick

“A lot of people have been getting sick but that’s because they’re trying to figure out how to design the experience so the person doesn’t have to move.”—Kevin

“Push the boundaries and see where they are so you don’t have to cross them so abruptly.”—Patrick

“There’s an application for VR in every industry. Is there an industry that your computer doesn’t touch?”—Patrick

“Real estate, medicine—there’s a laundry list of industries that can benefit from VR.”—Kevin

“Doctors in France are capturing their surgeries with virtual reality for training purposes.” —Kevin

“Exposure therapy can help people afraid of heights or snakes. With VR you can give these treatments more accessibly.”—Kevin

“Lazy eye, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety and public speaking can all be treated with virtual reality.”—Kevin

“With VR you can take a computer model of an object and put it in an experience.”—Patrick

“The browser on mobile phone is more advanced all the time. Someone with a website can access the graphics without a native application. VR experiences are coming through just through websites now.”—Kevin

“One of the biggest problems in making content is vection, the intersection of what your eyes see and what your body does.”—Kevin

“An omnidirectional treadmill lets you walk around and accelerate but in the comfort of your own home.”—Kevin

On the Dodo Case: “When the iPad came out we wanted to keep the art of book binding alive.”—Patrick

“The mobile phone is the gateway to virtual reality.”—Patrick

“Being at the beginning of a whole new industry, technology, and a new media format is the most exciting for me.”—Patrick

“Audio is a key part of any VR experience. Where and what are the sounds? When you turn your head the sounds move.”—Kevin

“From the user interface the corners of the screen get cluttered with game points. Designers are now fixing the screen creatively by putting the user in a cockpit.”—Kevin

“People understand how their computer works, the initial transfer to mapping a VR experience is making people feel comfortable with it.”—Patrick

“I would look at mobile VR applications. It’s a green field opportunity right now.”—Patrick

“With the phone on your camera you can take a panoramic photo, but there’s not a VR Instagram to post. It’s an opportunity for mobile apps for VR.”—Patrick

“Oculus has been partnering with Playful Corp to be the flagship company for VR. They try building a new game every 3 days to see what works and what doesn’t.”—Kevin

Fave apps: “Waze for getting around and Google Images for researching.” —Patrick

Fave apps: “City Mapper for how to get places easily. I didn’t think you could get better than Google Maps.”—Kevin

“TweetBot, everyone’s been upset about what goes in your Twitter feed. The user interface is well thought out.”

“Cloud Flare, now your website can get https for free.”

Follow @PatrickBuckley @dodocase  and Kevin Burke  twentymilliseconds.com

Join “Dot Complicated with RAndi Zuckerberg on SiriusXM” next week to hear about the latest trends in tech, on SiriusXM Business 111 9am PST/12pm EST

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