Facebook just announced that it wants to build a type of "teleporter" device by 2025 that will create virtual reality (VR) so realistic that people's senses will make them think they were transported to another location. Since the social network purchased Oculus VR in March 2014 it has been developing VR and augmented reality (AR) technology, which would explain its vision of building a transportation machine with features of the Star Trek transporter.
Facebook's Chief Technical Officer Mike Schroepfer stated on November 3, Tuesday that the company wants to basically build a teleporter. It was at a Dublin Web Summit press event.
Schroepfer explained that it would allow people to go anywhere with anyone. Geographic borders would not exist.
Facebook would combine three work-in-progress concepts with current VR technology to build a "teleporter." The first one is for users to see themselves while using the gadget, such as when using Oculus Touch to view their hands.
The second idea is to copy a real environment. This would involve improving the look and feel of a VR environment to make it more realistic, according to Tech Times. Median is an Oculus Touch tool that allows users to build 3D objects.
The third conceptualization is for everyday people to create new environments, which would require people without VR device training to build their own virtual reality content. In May Oculus joined forces with the Surreal Vision computer vision company.
They are building tech allowing users to stream their real environments into VR, according to Mashable. That would include adding different objects.
The year 2025 is one decade away, so time will tell if Facebook is able to develop VR that is basically the same as real life. Tech companies could then work on making a real teleportation machine.