If you're like us, you've been wondering when virtual reality would become an actual reality since you first saw The Lawnmower Man. Sure, videogame graphics have long since surpassed the visuals of virtual reality, but the interface hasn't changed much at all (with the recent exception of the Wii). We still interact with images on a screen without really immersing ourselves in the game world. Enter Headplay's Personal Cinema System. The PCS headset recreates a 52" television directly in front of the wearer's eyes. The device allows for virtually any video input (no HDMI, sorry PS3) so hooking up your 360 (or PC, or iPod, or DVD player, etc.) is a snap. Not only that, the device is capable of reading media directly from numerous memory cards and thumb drives. The resolution goes up to 1024 X 768, so you'll get a nice clear picture, too. The unit also supports true stereoscopic 3D images where available. Headplay plans to officially unveil the product at CES.
Of course, devices like this tend to be overly expensive and perform poorly, but we always have hope that someone will get it right. Granted, it has no head tracking, so it's not really virtual reality, but with the right games it could get pretty close (think FPS games). So, just grab yourself a wireless headset, wireless control, and a PCS, and you'll look like a raving lunatic in no time -- standing there, mashing buttons and screaming obscenities at the nearest inanimate object.
Would you ever get something like this if it actually worked well?
