Virtual reality headsets growing in mainstream appeal

By the end of the decade as many as 55 million virtual reality and augmented reality headsets will be shipping annually -- and not just to video game obsessives either.

Promotional-image-for-Oculus-Rift-Crescent-Bay-visor-Photo-AFP

By the end of the decade as many as 55 million virtual reality and augmented reality headsets will be shipping annually -- and not just to video game obsessives either.

Devices like the Samsung Gear VR and of course, Google's Project Cardboard are giving more consumers both an affordable and effective sneak peek of virtual reality's potential.

And while both may be limited by their performance capabilities -- they're powered by a smartphone -- their practicality and mobility are already proving attractive. Google claims that over 500,000 cardboard headsets have already been ordered.

But as well as Samsung and Google, LG has launched phablet-compatible VR headset the LG VR for 3G, and Carl Zeiss, renowned for its camera lenses, has also launched a VR headset, the VR One, which also uses a phone but will accept any handset -- Android or Apple -- with a screen size between 4.7 and 5.3 inches.

Steve Sinclair, Motorola's vice president of product management, shows the new Moto X, left, and Moto G phones during an interview in New York. (AP/Bebeto Matthews)

Steve Sinclair, Motorola's vice president of product management, shows the new Moto X, left, and Moto G phones during an interview in New York. (AP/Bebeto Matthews)

Despite this novelty value, ABI Research forecasts augmented reality and virtual reality headset shipments of 3 million units for 2015.

However, the real explosion in use will come when devices like the Oculus Rift are ready for the public. The Oculus Rift headset needs to be connected directly to a seriously fast gaming PC but the results will be enough to make serious gamers invest. ABI Research projects sales and demand really starting to take off in 2016.

'Devices like the Samsung Gear VR will see the most success early, while tethered devices like the Oculus Rift and standalone devices like those manufactured by ODG for industrial applications will need more time to mature before establishing a large user base,' comments Eric Abbruzzese, Research Analyst. However, by 2020, 55 million units could be shipping annually.

There is clearly a huge buzz within the gaming community about the coming of Virtual Reality. As well as the Oculus Rift, game developer and distribution company Valve has confirmed that it's also building a VR headset for its Steam platform of PC games which will be unveiled at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on March 2.

The new Moto X phone that features a 5.1-inch display, 32GB internal storage (non-expandable) and a 12 megapixel rear camera shown by Steve Sinclair, Motorola's vice president of product management during an interview on August 27, 2014. (AP/Bebeto Matthews)

The new Moto X phone that features a 5.1-inch display, 32GB internal storage (non-expandable) and a 12 megapixel rear camera shown by Steve Sinclair, Motorola's vice president of product management during an interview on August 27, 2014. (AP/Bebeto Matthews)