When former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch was asked about his secret to keeping his body toned, he would always point to his passion for swimming. Athletes around the world rely on swimming to stay in tip-top shape. However, doing one lap after another in a pool eventually becomes quite boring.
Underwater VR is poised to change the VR experience. It won’t be long until VR headset wearers can explore space, coral reef, schools of fish and underwater shipwrecks from their pool or any other body of water. The experience is enhanced with the addition of audio piped in through the headset. This technology will inspire users to swim far distances to explore new worlds. As a result, underwater VR could prove to be a turning point for virtual reality as it promotes physical fitness while simultaneously fulfilling one’s natural sense of wonder.
Enter underwater virtual reality.
The Emergence of Underwater VR
It is now possible to experience weightlessness in virtual reality with a waterproof headset. Immersive underwater virtual reality is poised to change the VR experience as well as physical fitness. Take a moment to imagine what it would feel like to float through space and view Orion’s belt without a fear in the world. Perhaps you would like to swim through an underwater shipwreck in the Cayman Islands. These weightless experiences are now possible thanks to the recently created VR headset for underwater use.
The Tech Behind Underwater VR
The breakthrough device is the brainchild of Allen Evans, the co-founder of the headset company Avegant and Stephen Greenwood, the creative development lead at Discovery Digital Networks. The project started out as a fun experiment and soon morphed into a legitimate device powered via a waterproof Android phone connected to a three-dimensional printed plastic block with biconvex style lenses. This box is internally secured with a traditional snorkeling mask through uber-strong black tape. The tape prevents outside light from making its way inside the headset.
The virtual reality experience is made that much more immersive thanks to the addition of audio delivered through a special Finis MP3 player that functions when exposed to water. It makes use of bone conduction to produce crystal clear audio. The end result is quite the captivating isolated experience that taps into the freedom of mobility provided by water to generate an array of weightless environments.
Why Underwater VR Will be a Massive Hit
Just about everyone desires to explore the depths of the sea and float through space. However, most people don’t have the money or intestinal fortitude required to embark on such activities. Underwater VR makes these adventures possible at an affordable cost in a completely safe manner. The beauty of this technology is that it makes the user truly believe he is in a completely weightless and realistic environment. There is no sense of the ground or the pressure of gravity. Even the cardinal directions aren’t recognizable. This is a truly believable experience that will prove useful in a variety of environments.
Look for underwater VR to serve purposes beyond entertainment. It will likely be used in physical therapy sessions, for fitness purposes and simulated scuba dives. Those who are interested in becoming PADI-licensed scuba divers will find underwater VR to be especially enlightening.
This is the perfect physical fitness tool for those who are looking for a dynamic exercise experience beyond swimming monotonous laps. Strap on an underwater VR headset and you will be able to explore space and underwater environments with a customized soundtrack. The immersive quality of this experience will separate it from traditional swimming, motivating countless people to embark on extensive VR swims through virtual environments.
The end result of underwater VR will be fulfilled participants with toned bodies who keep on coming back for more. Some will even choose to hang, suspended in their pool while occasionally contorting their body to see space and water attractions above, below and to the sides. Even those who choose to float in such an idle manner will eventually be intrigued to swim through the virtual environment to discover what lies ahead. The urge to explore is exactly what will keep underwater VR users in shape and coming back for more. This amazing new creation really is the perfect synthesis of entertainment and physical fitness.
