Facebook Builds a VR Space, but Will Anyone Come?

Facebook on Tuesday announced the beta launch of Facebook Spaces, a new app that allows users to connect with friends and colleagues in an interactive virtual reality environment. Facebook Spaces is available for Rift and Touch at the Oculus Store.

The app provides a way for social media users to hang out as they might otherwise in person -- even bridging great distances -- noted Rachel Franklin, head of social VR at Facebook.

An avatar represents each user in Facebook Spaces. Its appearance is based on the user's photo, but can be further modified with choices of eye color, hairstyle and facial features that best fit the person's identity.

After creating a virtual persona, users can use Messenger to connect with friends, interact in 360-degree spaces, and utilize the app's selfie stick to further manipulate photos in the VR environment.




Social VR Becomes a Reality
Facebook acquired Oculus VR just over three years ago for a reported US$2 billion. The deal included $400 million in cash, along with 23.1 million in Facebook shares. Another $300 million would sweeten the deal if and when certain milestones were hit.

Facebook hinted at how it might socialize virtual reality in a demo at last year's F8 developer conference. Two employees engaged in a virtual space, even though the pair actually were 30 miles apart.

With this week's beta launch, the technology now is open to anyone with an Oculus Rift.

"This is the proof of concept right now," said Michael Inouye, principal analyst at .

My VR Space
Facebook Spaces isn't exactly ready for the mainstream yet.

"It is still expensive to get into the tethered VR space that is required to access Facebook Spaces," Inouye told TechNewsWorld.

"It will cost about $1,000 for the hardware, plus the computer to run it, so this is still very much a beta and experimental technology," he said.

"The most interesting thing about Facebook Spaces right now is the real-world/VR integration," observed Stephanie Llamas, lead analyst for AR/VR technology at .

"There isn't a big enough VR install base -- particularly on the Oculus Rift -- for multiplayer or social applications to make sense on its own," she told TechNewsWorld.

"Allowing people to connect inside and outside of a headset is key," Llamas said, "and this also helps reach people beyond the guarded Oculus ecosystem and sparks the curiosity of a wider audience."

Real Problems to Solve
There are several issues that need to be addressed before Facebook Spaces can offer a true VR experience, which is why software has been released in beta form.

One significant problem is the barrier to entry on the VR side, said Llamas, especially as many users may not have many friends who already have bought into the Oculus platform.

"This will really need to work seamlessly and be more than a novelty to encourage people to come back," she cautioned. "Otherwise, curious users will log on once or twice and then just go back to regular Facebook -- something they are already comfortable with and they can quickly open on all their devices."

There are technological issues as well.

"There still needs to be better eye tracking and better tracking of movement, which would make this more immersing," said ABI Research's Inouye.

The Money Won't Be Virtual
One thing Facebook certainly will want to do is ensure that the technology can be monetized in the real world.

"That is the bigger issue Facebook could face," said Inouye.

"Will we see billboards in the backgrounds of the VR world, or will there be virtual items that are branded?" he wondered.

The biggest hurdle will be getting people to use it.

"There have been a lot of social worlds -- VR or otherwise -- that haven't played out," Inouye pointed out. "There wasn't enough to do -- and if none of your friends have Oculus, you are a party of one, which is contrary to how Facebook is all about connecting with your friends."

I DIDNT NOT CREATE THIS THREAD OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT

I could see this for a business application but why would you want to use this at home?

Canadian said:

I could see this for a business application but why would you want to use this at home?

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Give this a thought:
Humans will probably end up using some sort of "Facebook Space" kinda in the end, because they truly can't be themselves in the real world without being judged. Also our whole human existence might end up being in a virtual world, whereas our bodies is only being used to control our actions inside that world. But of course we'd have to feed and so on.

Reference:

I rarely even go on Facebook. Probably wouldn't use their VR, I don't see the point - pretty cool and interesting at first though, I guess in the next 10 years or so this will be the norm.

Seems pointless, Facebook just don't want people to have a life. Everyone should just communicate in real life, fuck virtual world. And for people who live far away should just use Facetime.

MySpace 3D

science and technology has come along way

Canadian said:

I could see this for a business application but why would you want to use this at home?

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i can see friends and family from long distances being able to react and if someone is far from someone they can be in this world, and not feel as down, so they are kinda with them

Kylie said:

Seems pointless, Facebook just don't want people to have a life. Everyone should just communicate in real life, fuck virtual world. And for people who live far away should just use Facetime.

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some people cant associate in person, either being too shy, or being bullied i can say because i have been.

GageDodd said:

i can see friends and family from long distances being able to react and if someone is far from someone they can be in this world, and not feel as down, so they are kinda with them

some people cant associate in person, either being too shy, or being bullied i can say because i have been.

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If a person was too shy, they wouldn't be communicating over Virtually Reality either and if a person was bullied, then they should receive help, also there would be bullies associated to this anyway? Like any other virtual reality game. People accept anyone on Facebook nowadays.
 

Kylie said:

If a person was too shy, they wouldn't be communicating over Virtually Reality either and if a person was bullied, then they should receive help, also there would be bullies associated to this anyway? Like any other virtual reality game. People accept anyone on Facebook nowadays.

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Topping this off, I don't think I wouldn't spend £600+ on a VR as well as spending money on a new laptop, such as a Gaming one to run it.

I personally think this is a good idea, but at the current time. VR costs way too much to sell to your average Facebook user, not only that. You need at least a half decent computer which ain't cheap either. Most people don't use a computer for Facebook, most use their mobile phone or tablet etc. The idea is great, but I think it's too early and costly at this moment to make this work. When prices drop it will work for sure, but until then, no.