In the ever-changing world of technology, Virtual Reality (VR) phone calls have now been launched. The Application Program Interface (API) that will host technology will be courtesy of Facebook and will be like a version of Xbox or the Play Station Network. The Facebook VR phone call allows you to invite friends and interact in your own virtual social space. This could enable Oculus to be the portal of choice when it comes to entertaining a group of friends gaming or otherwise. All that is required is a Facebook friend list and an invite for fun to begin.
How Oculus VR call work and requirements
Oculus has launched ‘rooms’ where invited friends will meet for fun and games. A Gear VR mobile headset is required, and reports indicate it will be upgraded further in the coming year with Rift support for a more surreal experience.
According to Madhu Muthukumar who is the Oculus product Manager, the ‘rooms’ created by Oculus will give the Facebook VR calls a physical place to meet and interact. And it will be just like in real life where one invites friends, and they do activities together like playing board games or watching TV. Live streaming of videos can be shared with other Facebook users without the aid of the headset for all to get a feel of the experience.
How to control the Facebook VR system
The VR headset does not need controllers which will make gaming feel more realistic. In its place is a touchpad where the user just taps and you can navigate the room and locate the rest of your friends. The ‘rooms’ provide a private hangout and are designed with futuristic technology in mind. Friends can make a few avatar adjustments which enable them to sit in one area or chose the other four areas that are available.
“First off you will be in a room eating, by yourself but if you wanted to meet your friends or take a photo with them, you would have to stop and go meet them,” said Mark Zuckerberg at the Oculus Demo. “That’s not going to be how virtual reality works. Virtual reality is the perfect platform to put people first, you feel like your there and you can do anything you want.”
A big screen TV acts as the watch space, and all your friends have similar control of what can be shown. Friends can actually log into their Facebook accounts and play their favorite videos including saved ones’ and check out their News Feed. The games department has table top games, a card game, a word guessing game and a light memory game. Madhu Muthukumar promises greater improvements and feature additions in the future with even the possibility of watching live Internet TV.
Then there is the app launcher which enables all of your friends to play and enjoy a Facebook VR experience like no other while allowing you to see the games your friends have installed. And you can play them together.
VR calls
Using the Facebook Messenger VOIP calls stack, you can also invite friends to a call, and chat away as a group. This was developed after the developers decided to find a way to keep in touch with loved ones who are in distant places.
Playing games going or through social media alone can make one feel lonely. But with friends, there is a whole feel good factor about it. And that is what Oculus have achieved.
