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Facebook Forays into Virtual Reality Apps

| Feb 18, 2015 10:39 AM EST

Oculus Rift

After about a year since Facebook purchased Virtual Reality (VR) headset maker Oculus for $2 billion, the social media giant finally announced its plan to create virtual reality versions of its apps.

Chris Cox, product head executive for the social network giant, confirmed this move in an interview at the Code/Media conference held at Laguna Niguel, California.

"You realize, when you're in it, that you're looking at the future, and it's going to be awesome," said Cox.

"When you're in Facebook, you're just sending around these bits of experience- a photo, a video, a thought. With VR, you would be sending a fuller picture" he added in a report by Android Central.

Also referred to as immersive multimedia, VR is a digital environment that can simulate physical presence that mimics real or imagined worlds.

To date, VR technology has showcased capabilities that simulate sensory experiences such as virtual taste, sight, smell, sound, and touch.

"Virtual reality is pretty cool. We're working on apps for VR" Cox said in a press interview during the Code/Media conference.

At the moment, Facebook is gearing up content recreation for VR, which Cox said could be useful to users.

In a report by recode.net, Cox was quoted saying that even famous personalities will find it useful.

"Totally, you'll do it. Beyonce will do it," Cox quipped when asked by Peter Kafka, Re/code senior editor if users will be able to make VR content

Cox gave no further details as to how users can come up with VR content. "It's still something that requires multiple cameras and a fair amount of production to pull off".

"We're probably a long way from everyone having these headsets", Cox admitted.

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