On Thursday, March 26, during its annual developer conference in San Francisco, CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the future Facebook plans – virtual reality, artificial intelligence and drones.
All these projects have a common purpose: to enhance the user’s Facebook experience. During the conference, the company’s executives explained that these plans deserve such high investments. One of these plans was put into motion last year when Facebook bought virtual reality headset maker Oculus for $2 billion (1.3 billion pounds).
The company also hired aerospace experts which for the 1.4-billion member social network is understandable.
Zuckerberg found a new use for virtual reality gadgets. The Oculus Rift device is great for video games and entertainment but it can also be used when communicating via Facebook.
For example, users can use the device during various events such as birthday parties or a child’s first bike ride. Such occasions could be shared on the social network site with other users that could actually feel like they took part in the event.
Facebook Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer made the following statement during the second day of conference:
“After thousands of demos we know we are just on the cusp, just getting there to get that sense of presence where for a moment your conscious brain is overruled by the subconscious that says, ‘You are not where you think you are’.”
The release date of the Oculus headset was not communicated but officials said it would be soon.
Another big project Facebook got involved in is drones. The company announced that the first test flight of a “solar-powered drone prototype” had recently been completed. The aim is to build drones that would fly at a 90,000-feet altitude in order to offer remote parts of the world Internet connectivity.
But Facebook isn’t the only company with such projects. Google is also trying to develop “Internet-beaming satellites and drones” with the purpose of offering Internet access in various remote parts of the world.
As both companies are competing for the title of “number one go-to online hub for consumers and marketers” experts are waiting to see who will be the winner in this 21st century race. But this situation will lead to a new issue: the flood of so much information will result in a difficulty of differentiating important information from the useless one.
Image Source: Crave Online
