According to a recent report, a virtual reality (VR) theme park is slated to open in Hong Kong on Friday. The VR theme park developed by a smartphone maker is the company’s first overseas.
The theme park, located at the Discovery Park shopping mall in Tsuen Wan, will charge users for playing different VR games and renting its VR headsets.
The Taipei VR theme park spans 330 square meters and all the booths are fully equipped with HD projectors, high-end stereo equipment, high-performance graphics cards, high-quality wireless headsets with low latency, and comfortable seats for consumers.
The VR theme park in Hong Kong should help build a certain level of public exposure to the technology. The theme park should make use of its well-equipped venue to promote the technology in a fun and easy way.
Virtual reality is not just about games. Of course, wearing a VR headset to play a game is an exciting experience for game lovers. But the applications of the technology go far beyond entertainment.
At the Taipei park, for example, there is a booth that enables users to travel to the past through the use of a VR headset that makes them feel like they are a part of historical photos and videos.
Such an offering would attract even non-gamers to visit Hong Kong the park and try out the new technology.
In fact, some technology companies did provide a similar service for the elderly in Hong Kong, and the senior citizens were delighted with the experience of using the VR headset to relive the past.
Virtual reality is also expected to play an increasingly important role in education.
Many local schools are now promoting STEAM education, which is an approach to learning that uses science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics to develop the student’s critical thinking ability. VR is a key tool in this interdisciplinary learning method.
Virtual reality allows the user to be immersed in a virtual world. Unlike a classroom whiteboard or a regular projector screen, a VR headset provides three-dimensional images that will surely grab the users’ attention, and encourage them to be more engaged and responsive.
With such enormous possibilities, the solutions presented by experiences at the park can be promoted in schools as well as other institutions and businesses.
The smartphone maker is one of the leading technology firms in the VR business, offering a whole ecosystem from hardware to software.
The company has released a new VR headset at the annual CES consumer electronics trade show in Las Vegas. The gadget has a built-in eye tracking function to enhance the perception of visual effects.
Together with the VR theme park, HTC has a complete online-to-offline VR ecosystem for users and developers.
Speaking recently at the CES in Las Vegas, the company’s chairperson said that VR technology and the smartphone would be integrated in the future, and the advent of 5G mobile technology would speed up the pace of this integration.
In addition, it was announced that the company will launch its 5G smartphone in the second half this year, which would bring this envisioned integration closer to reality.
