Facebook Spaces and the Future or Social Media

Source: http://www.roadtovr.com/facebook-launch-first-social-vr-app/

On Tuesday Facebook launched Spaces, an app for their Oculus Rift headsets. This is part of a push to embed functionality in all of their apps, Facebook, Instagram, etc. It is not only a way to crush Snapchat, but also a way to create a developer platform for Augmented reality.

In Spaces, people can hang around a virtual reality table, chat with other users and share 3D, 360, content. People without Oculus Rift headset can also use Spaces, they will appear in there using Facebook's messenger app and its video calling functionality. Spaces also allows users to create avatars, based on their profile pictures, or edit them to their hearts content.

Facebook also announced on Tuesday, extended functionality to their Facebook and Instagram cameras. Adding basic augmented reality functions such as stickers, headings and text that can either adapt to camera movement or stay in the one spot at all times. On top of this they are allowing third party developers and artists to create their own effects.

Yet another product released by Facebook at the F8 convention was their two new 360 degree cameras. These aren't for sale to regular consumers, and will instead be licensed to a select group of commercial partners. The new cameras come in either a super intimidating 24 camera setup or a not so imposing 6 camera setup. What makes these cameras so special is their incorporation of 6 degrees of freedom. Meaning the cameras can adapt to how you are viewing it, instead of having a fixed lens, where the content stays still as you move. Making it a much more immersive experience, and giving it a more "real life" effect.

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/19/facebook-surround-360-x24-x6/

Facebook's new products that were launched this week are just the start of their vision for the future. It is clear that Facebook see VR and AR as industries with huge potential and value, and you can definitely expect to see them leading the way in innovation for this. Facebook obviously see VR and Ar being hugely beneficial in the social media space as they have invested heavily in this sector, shown by their purchase of Oculus Rift, for $3 Billion, back in 2014.

Zac