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In the current era, there exist, not one but several interfaces that have created intuitive and natural ways of human-computer communication. With the increase in computational developments and technical knowledge, the concept of interaction between mechanical devices and humans has enriched exponentially and given way to very sophisticated technologies.

Jason Rubin, Head of Studios at Oculus VR, expressed his belief that VR forces a paradigm shift in gaming, such has not been seen since the transition from 2D to 3D that was brought about in 1995 by the Sony PlayStation. Although online gaming and mobile gaming each provided players with new and exciting ways to play games, VR takes players past the veil that separates reality from game play and plunges them directly into the game.

Imagine for a moment putting on a virtual reality headset and feeling physically present in a non-physical environment. Everywhere you look you are met with the engrossing sights and sounds of a completely virtual world, and in the not-too-distant future, this virtual environment will be entirely indistinguishable from our real world.

Virtual meaning near or proximate, virtual reality can loosely be defined as something near reality or to what we feel and experience. Basically a realm created beyond the scope of the real world via latest computer hardware and software technology is known as a virtual reality. A VR environment, on the other hand, is the overall computer-generated atmosphere created by this latest technology, amplifying characters, objects or situations to create a three-dimensional, more immersive experience.

Virtual reality gaming may seem like it belongs to the realms of science fiction, but the truth is you’re now closer than ever to pulling on a virtual reality headset in your own home and escaping into an immersive world of zombies, dragons or car chases thanks to the massive strides in VR development.

2017 is the year of all things Virtual Reality. No longer is the concept of a virtually simulated world an outlandish idea - no. Today, every which where you turn, you’re sure to find something that mentions virtual reality environments or VR game development or even both.

Virtual Reality is perhaps the most talked about computer-related innovation of this decade. The fact that every single individual you come across at least has some basic knowledge of what VR entails is a testament to that fact. Frankly, why wouldn’t it be the talk of the town? It is an innovation that has revolutionized the digitized world in ways that were completely unimaginable for most of us. And now, thanks to the new generation of (almost) affordable VR devices slowly and steadily making their way into the market, Virtual Reality’s popularity has shot straight through the roof.

No longer consigned to the world of science fiction, virtual reality is starting to look more and more like science fact. It’s only a matter of time before commercially available hardware such as HTC’s Vive and the Facebook-backed Oculus Rift become the most anticipated and sought after tech since Sony and Microsoft went head-to-head in the next-gen console wars of 2013.

Woody Allen once quipped: “I hate reality but it’s still the best place to get a good steak.” Perhaps that’s true, but with the current investment in both virtual and augmented reality, one might wonder how soon technology will prove Allen wrong. A close examination of the augmented reality vs. virtual reality debate shows it might come sooner than you think.