By Huffington Post
Ready, headset, go!
If you've ever been in a house that was built pre-World War II, you'll likely notice the ornate ceilings, leadlight doors and an awkwardly placed television.
While TV was technically available in the 1920s, it was not until 1956 here in Australia that Bruce Gyngell uttered the immortal line, "Good evening, and welcome to television".
So, while a dedicated wall upon which to mount or stand a TV eventually became de rigeur in homes, most houses you enter with beautiful art deco features likely also have their TVs crammed into a corner, with the couches on diagonal angles. Because what architect or builder in the 1920s and '30s knew a single box would become the dominant mechanism around which a family would come together of an evening?
Therefore, with the seemingly inevitable rise of virtual reality and augmented reality, you have to wonder just how important a media room is going to be in the coming years.
At the moment, dedicated space for VR seems like a ridiculous extravagance for millionaires. Just like a television set was in its early days.
Ready, headset, go!
We may have been given a sneak peek at the affordable future of VR this week, with Mark Zuckerberg revealing a wireless, standalone headset -- one that requires no PC or smartphone to function -- at the company's Oculus Connect developer conference.
"Standalone is a new category designed to bring more freedom and accessibility to VR," Oculus wrote in a blog post.
"Without a cable or the need for a mobile phone, standalone headsets represent a totally new phase of VR hardware."
While coy on details of battery life and visual fidelity, the Oculus Go does promise a "high-resolution fast-switch LCD screen" as well as lenses the company claim to be their "best ever".
We may have been given a sneak peek at the affordable future of VR this week, with Mark Zuckerberg revealing a wireless, standalone headset -- one that requires no PC or smartphone to function -- at the company's Oculus Connect developer conference.
"Standalone is a new category designed to bring more freedom and accessibility to VR," Oculus wrote in a blog post.
"Without a cable or the need for a mobile phone, standalone headsets represent a totally new phase of VR hardware."
While coy on details of battery life and visual fidelity, the Oculus Go does promise a "high-resolution fast-switch LCD screen" as well as lenses the company claim to be their "best ever".
Time to start thinking about renovations.
We'll find out what's what when Go is released in early 2018, however Oculus appear to have thrown the gauntlet down to the other companies doing VR.
But if we assume these setups will become commonplace, what will be the point of setting it up in a room full of bulky furniture? You want to immerse yourself in a virtual universe in which you can walk around. And if you're going to enjoy a realistic and safe VR experience, you need to have a relatively large, open space in which to do it.
As stated on Oculus' Gear VR safety precautions, "Serious injuries can occur from tripping, running into or striking walls, furniture or other objects, so clear an area for safe use before using the Gear VR".
Granted, the Gear VR also recommends you stay seated throughout, but anyone who's donned a top-of-the-line piece of VR will tell you that the ability to walk around in the environment takes the whole thing to the next level.
And do you really want to pull the couches, coffee table and TV out of your media room every time you want to don the VR headset?
Look, it's not going to take effect tomorrow, so don't chuck out all your living room furniture just yet, but if VR is going to be an essential piece of homeware -- much like the TV -- then there will be broader repercussions.
Perhaps having to call in the renovators will be one of them.
About Jason Dooris
I have created and designed marketing and growth strategies for some of the world’s recognisable brands including Amazon, Deloitte, Saatchi and Saatchi, Optus, Virgin Mobile, Big W, Woolworths Supermarkets, Dan Murphys, Nespresso and Landlease. I have also worked with many Government departments on culture change and identity branding.
I am passionate about people leadership and development - empowering and engaging large marketing and brand teams through coaching, training, and mentorship for performance excellence. I currently lead a global/remote team across multiple locations including Australia, Argentina, Hong Kong and China.
I have a proven history of achievement in delivering corporate growth plans, and successful marketing initiatives to stimulate revenue growth and outperform sales objectives and have strong digital technology capabilities in advertising, communications, social media, marketing, and creative agency management.
My career experience has enabled me to present and speak across numerous platforms and industries as a subject matter expert, namely: ABC News, Sunrise, for the Australian Government, IBM Annual Global Conference, Emirates Annual Conference, AMP Board, New York Art Directors Club, Media & Marketing Europe, Australian Financial Review, and Web Summit.
I also volunteer my time and give back to the community via Board and Committee memberships.
Some key achievements and skills:
Ø Exceptional abilities in the development/implementation of marketing and growth innovations, ensuring business sustainability and continuous growth while cultivating strategic partnerships.
Ø A high impact leader and influencer with proven expertise in directing/coordinating all top to bottom functions of marketing, media, data analytics, traditional, & digital creative campaigns, business processes and performance groups.
Ø Completed large scale advertising and marketing projects, managing the entire product lifecycle, including research, prototype development, manufacturing, sales, branding, and marketing.
Ø Outstanding business and financial acumen with a forward-looking approach and collaborative styles.
Ø Interpersonal dexterity and executive influencing skills to build and sustain strong and mutually beneficial professional relationships with key stakeholders, clients, and staff members.
My area of expertise includes Brand Awareness & Integration, New Business Development, Team Leadership & Direction, Public Speaking Abilities, Consultation Services, Growth Strategies Implementation, Commercial Business Acumen, Hard-Hitting Negotiations, Stakeholder Engagement, Course Marketing, Business Transformation, Marketing & Advertising, Product Development, Risk Mitigation, Advertising and Media Solutions.
Feel free to email me at jasondooris@mac.com or visit my personal website jasondooris.com
“Its been an exciting first half!” Jason Dooris