Posted on August 23, 2017
It's a good bet that if you're reading this you're doing so on the Chrome browser. The most popular browser on the web, with estimates that place around 45% of all users choosing to open Chrome to surf when they want to go online, competitors like Firefox scrambling for a way to increase their market share. And Firefox is hoping that WebVR is the answer.
First conceived in 2014 by Vladimir Vukicevic from Mozilla with some input from the Google Chrome team, this ongoing collaboration has resulted in the WebVR API that allows web applications to show content in virtual reality. It's an attempt from Mozilla and Google to bridge the gap between devices, allowing developers to build VR experiences that can translate across devices without the need to re-create their work for the Oculus, then again for the VIVE, and again for the Samsung Gear.
Forget about installing headset specific apps, with WebVR you'll be able to visit a website and experience the immersive quality from the get go. Of course, it all works better with a headset, but it's not completely necessary. In many cases the app will allow users a choice between a headset or just using your mouse and the desktop, though the latter option won't allow for fully immersive experiences it will allow for 360 degree viewing.
What Can You Do In WebVR?While WebVR creates plenty of possibilities the main thing you'll see it used for right now are 360 degree photos and videos. An especially useful tool for artists and photographers, they can place the user directly into the middle of their work. There are also a plethora of simple games that are powered by WebVR. Simply go to WebVR Experiments and play a rousing game of ping pong or try something a little more esoteric, like Mr Nom Nom. You can start to see the potential for seamless enjoyment of VR porn and porn sites using a VR headset.
The Catch?With everything running in the browser there are some features that won't be available to you that you may be used to in your headset apps and so most WebVR experiences are built to run on head tracking and voice commands alone. Think of WebVR as the Wild West of immersive VR experiences, you'll get some great developers trying out some new things but at the same time there are no rules regarding content or quality.
AvailabilityWebVR is being developed as part of a W3C community group, meaning that developers can make use of WebVR right now to create their own VR experiences in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Samsung Internet, and Oculus. It's already standard with the new Firefox 55 browsers and easy enough to download for those that want to use it with another, compatible browser. There are already a ton of unique games and experiences to try out with the promise of many more to come as developers become more familiar with this web based technology. We're especially excited to see how developers will mix in augmented reality technology (AR) to create real time, high performance experiences.