One of the most anticipated aspects of the emerging virtual reality (VR) space is its ability to bring people who are many miles apart together in a virtual space.
Part of the problem is that most of the VR systems out there focus on the passive viewing or gaming experience. But a new app from Samsungcalled “Bedtime VR Stories” is a prime example of how VR can be a tool for connecting with someone far away.
The app allows a parent to “meet” their child in VR to tell them a story, using a combination of VR and VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). Each story lasts about six to seven minutes and requires only a Samsung Gear VR and a smartphone for the parent and a special cardboard viewer for the child.
The demo video shows how wonderful this experience can be for both child and parent, and another video lets you experience first-hand what both viewers see when a story is in progress.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBFHXlefk5E
As more and more households have both parents working outside the home, spending quality time with their children is more challenging than ever, making this tool an ideal solution for connecting with family.
However, for now, the tool is still in development and hasn't been officially released yet. But when it does launch, it could give many parents a very compelling reason to pick up both a smartphone and the Gear VR headset, as neither is available for the iPhone yet.
