Samsung has an app in development called Bedtime VR Stories which allows absent mums and dads to parent remotely, no matter where in the world they might be.
What makes this app different from other VR (virtual reality) technologies out there is that it is based around connecting people rather than on passive gaming or viewing.
With Samsung’s app, parents and children can meet in VR to share a bedtime story, creating a moment together even when they’re long distances apart.
For parents who are separated from their kids because of work or other reasons, this technology can give them a sense of connection and closeness with family which might be lacking when they’re not physically present at important times.
Missing out on the bedtime ritual with young children is especially difficult for absent parents, so the Bedtime VR Stories can help take some of the sting out of not being there in person.
The app works by using VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) and VR. The only equipment needed is a Samsung Gear VR combined with a smartphone for parents. Kid use a specially designed cardboard viewer.
The app hasn’t been officially launched yet, but it’s generating a lot of attention as VR technology steps up to the next level. While other technology has jumped ahead in leaps and bounds, VR has really dragged the chain, but hopefully not for much longer.
Since 2010, it is estimated that $4 billion has been invested in the sector, with over half of this investment being made in the previous two years.
As a result of this surge in interest, the immersive VR experience which we have been seeing in sci-fi films for decades is almost here. As the technology becomes more refined and interactive, it’s not just parenting that will be affected. All relationships will potentially be shaped by this new medium.
A recent survey found that 55% of people believed they were likely to buy VR technology in 2016, so you can expect to see a lot more of the distinctive VR headsets in the near future.
Considering how much time most of us already spend immersed in digital media, there are valid fears that VR technology will make us even less present for the significant people in our lives.
That’s why apps like Samsung’s Bedtime VR Stories are so important. Technology needs to built around connecting people and bringing them together in meaningful ways, instead of mindless entertainment and escapism.
Featured image screengrab via YouTube
