Oculus Connect is one of the most anticipated global VR events held by Facebook. In light of the Coronavirus outbreak, this year’s event, Oculus Connect 7, will be hosted as a digital event. The exact date of the launch of OC7 is yet to be declared by Facebook but in their official statement, they do confirm that it will be held some time “later this year.”
What Can Oculus Connect 7 Promise Its Attendees?
Every year, Oculus Connect brings together VR developers, content creators, investors, entrepreneurs, and others to celebrate the progress that year in the VR world. OC6 provided the platform to discuss:
- Hand-Tracking as a New Input Modality;
- Immersive Cinema and the Making of Star Wars;
- AR as a Bridge between the Virtual and Real Worlds;
- Getting Started in Spark AR Studio;
- The Business End of Oculus;
- From WebVR to WebXR;
- Showcasing the “Hall of Heroes” VR Project;
- Women in VR User Research;
- Designing for Emotion;
- Virtual Community;
- Transforming Corporate Training with VR;
And much more.
The Oculus Connect 7 will hopefully bring much more into the world of VR. The exact schedule and itinerary are yet to be disclosed but the previous years are any indication, then OC7 will more than live up to the hype.
Virtual Reality Conference To Be Held Digitally?
Ironically, Oculus Connect has been a convention for Virtual Reality but it has had no virtual component to it at all. Oculus Connect 7 is poised to be the first “digital” if not “virtual” event in its history.
Of course, Oculus is not the only VR event undergoing sea changes. After the Coronavirus outbreak, almost all major VR events have announced their cancellation or postponement. This includes coveted events such as GDC, E3, and even Facebook’s very own F8.
HTC, on the other hand, took its latest Virtual Vive Ecosystem Convention (V²EC) into VR created by Engage. All virtual attendees could follow along either via a 6DOF VR headset or live stream via a monitor.
The Final Verdict
Oculus Connect 7 offers a fresh, albeit untested alternative to connect with the international developer fraternity. In the coming months, we will get to know the specific details of the event.
Yes, the event is still a far cry from perfect, but the fact that it has taken a step into digital means that it is already better off than many of its closest competitors. Fans eagerly wait for three things now – the announcement of OC7’s launch date, its official itinerary, and the day when Oculus Connect will finally go fully virtual.
For Oculus Connect 7, Facebook acknowledges that bringing together the entire community online is a difficult task at best. However, they also assert that well-being and security are the priorities now. As of now, Facebook has generously pledged to donate a handsome $500,000 to organizations in San Jose as the city has hosted OC for the past several years now.
