Is this the future of virtual reality? Concept for Facebook headset reveals slick curved screen and gesture sensors

Oculus Rift, the virtual reality firm recently bought by Facebook for $2bn, is expected to release a consumer version next - and one designer has revealed a stunning concept of how it could look.
The rift concept has a flexible screen, gesture sensors and headphones built in to transport the wearer to a virtual world.
Its designer claims the gadget could for for virtual reality what the iPhone did for mobile phones.

This concept by Carlos Pendas gives a glimpse as to what The final consumer version of the Oculus Rift headset could look like

Spot the difference: The current prototype of the Oculus Rift

'I wanted to go a year or two into the future and imagine the Oculus Rift for everyone, the one that would do for peripherals what the iPhone did for smartphones, and constraint my design to something that could be technically feasible,' said Carlos Pendas, the Mexican designer who created the concept.
'I completely drifted away form the aggressive shapes normally found in gaming hardware.
'The consumer Rift needs to be subtle and friendly, it doesn’t need ornaments to stand out.

 

'It also needs to be approachable, as it faces the risk of intimidating the consumer.'
The concept comes just weeks after Facebook was been given U.S. antitrust approval to buy Oculus VR in a $2bn deal, the Federal Trade Commission has revealed.
Facebook said on March 25 that it planned to buy Oculus for $2 billion in its first-ever hardware deal.
Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said at the time that the proposed transaction reflected his company's desire to bet on 'the platforms of tomorrow'.

The concept is designed around 3 main features: a curved screen, integrated headphones and a gesture recognition system.

The headset will plug into a laptop computer to transport wearer's to a virtual world

IS IT ANY GOOD?

MailOnline was able to try Oculus Rift at the CES show in Las Vegas earlier this year.

At first we were skeptical - the headset looks bulky, although it is surprisingly light when  attached via straps.

However, once our demo started, doubts were quickly forgotten.
The technology, still just a developer's version, is breathtakingly good.
While the resolution still doesn't give the feeling of quite being in the real world, it does make you think you are actually in a virtual world.
During several demonstrations we entered a vast dungeon and flew through space, with head tracking meaning the images moved perfectly as the user's head moves.

It's not quite ready for primetime yet, but is almost there - and the Oculus Rift headset finally delivers on the long awaited promise of virtual reality.

The Oculus buy was one of several high-profile purchases by Facebook, which recently won antitrust approval to acquire Whatsapp, an instant messaging service for smartphones, for $19 billion.
It also bought the photo-sharing app Instagram in 2012.
The social network announced last month it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire Oculus VR, a California firm founded by 21 year old college dropout Palmer Luckey.
'Mobile is the platform of today, and now we're also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow,' said Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg at the time.
'It's different from anything I've every experienced in my life.'
The firm is among the most advanced in the VR field, and recently began taking orders for the latest version of its $350 developers version.
'Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate,' said Zuckerberg.
'Immersive gaming will be the first, and Oculus already has big plans here that won't be changing and we hope to accelerate.
'The Rift is highly anticipated by the gaming community, and there's a lot of interest from developers in building for this platform.
'We're going to focus on helping Oculus build out their product and develop partnerships to support more games.
'Oculus will continue operating independently within Facebook to achieve this.
'But this is just the start.
'After games, we're going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences.
'Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face - just by putting on goggles in your home.'
The $2bn deal includes $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook common stock.

'Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate,' said Mark Zuckerberg, pictured

Oculus is the leader in immersive virtual reality technology and has already built strong interest among developers, having received more than 75,000 orders for development kits for the company's virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift. 
Facebook said 'While the applications for virtual reality technology beyond gaming are in their nascent stages, several industries are already experimenting with the technology, and Facebook plans to extend Oculus' existing advantage in gaming to new verticals, including communications, media and entertainment, education and other areas.' 

Oculus Rift: Step into the Game

Oculus is the leader in immersive virtual reality technology and has already built strong interest among developers 'The Matrix - that's always been the dream,' said one Oculus Rift executive of its headset, pictured

The Oculus prototype, pictured, is packed with components - many of which Mark Zuckerberg claims can be found in a mobile phone, making the gadget relatively easy to produce

'We are excited to work with Mark and the Facebook team to deliver the very best virtual reality platform in the world,' said Brendan Iribe, co-founder and CEO of Oculus VR.
'We believe virtual reality will be heavily defined by social experiences that connect people in magical, new ways.