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eBay: Virtual Reality is 2016’s next big thing

eBay’s Innovation Lab says that Virtual Reality is going to explode next year, thanks in part to devices like Samsung Gear VR, Oculus, PlayStation VR and HoloLens.

From a group of 3,000 potential customers, the retailer’s Innovation Lab used gaze tracking and NFC rating systems on a group of 500 recently to get an idea just what the next big thing in tech would be. From that group, eBay says that 42% were drawn to devices like Virtual Reality units, robots, holograms and 3D printing.

eBay also used website sales to back up their assessment, reporting that Virtual Reality purchases had increased by 523% in the past twelve months.

“Virtual Reality truly pulls down barriers of time, borders and distance, connecting people no matter where they are and what they are doing,” futurist Chris Riddell said. “This technology is bringing new environments into the home, the office and excitingly the classroom – with education methods rapidly evolving to give the next generation truly immersive learning surroundings. In fact Australians across these sectors are in many ways ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to utilising this technology.

“This was proven at the eBay Innovation Lab where we saw that consumers who engaged with virtual reality and the hologram – the ultimate in 3D visuals, stayed and experienced it longer than they did anything else.”

You can read more about eBay’s Innovation Lab and its results here.

HoloLens and PlayStation VR are expected in 2016. We’ve already checked HoloLens out; stay tuned for our thoughts on PlayStation VR, straight from PAX AUS!


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Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.