Is Virtual Reality the New Reality?

Futurists Share Their Views on VR and AR

By: Lisset Guillen, Assistant Editor

On Dec. 2, 2023, Film Gate hosted a panel about the future of gaming at the University of Miami to discuss their views on virtual reality and augmented reality. 

Video games began as a way to demonstrate how new technology operated. Since then, gaming has undergone an immense metamorphosis as it helps a person create content. 

“AR helps content creators by creating a new set of possibilities and it has a couple of unique values that other media does not have,” said Savannah Niles, Design Leader for a VR Trust. “One is the ability to tell a story. For content developers to be able to create with that as a new material is a new frontier.” 

AR, also known as augmented reality, is technology that allows digital items to be overlaid in the real world using an AR device. It can be used for architecture, construction and shopping. It provides a personal experience for users due to challenging qualities. 

“If you gave me a controller and said, ‘just swing your arm,’ I don’t really care, but if you put a ball and I have to hit it, and I might miss, I’m going to try again,” said Steve Lukas, Product Management Director of Qualcomm. “Being able to start using spatialization sparks neurons in us that just want us to engage on trying different things that we haven’t done before.” 

Film Gate also had a virtual reality game named “Never Grow Up.” It featured VR min-games such as stacking blocks, hand clapping and even dancing. 

“My childhood inspired me to make this game,” said Karen Vanderborght, Director of ‘Never Grow Up.’ “I come from a household with childhood abuse, so I wanted to make something about it but nothing horrific. People that might have had childhood trauma will understand the hints in this game and I hope it will motivate them to speak up.” 

While AR and VR continue to develop, content creators will continue to share their stories through the use of immersive technology.