Netflix Plus Oculus Hack Shows What Binge-Watching in Virtual Reality Is Like
Netflix may be using Internet distribution as a means to disrupt the traditional broadcast and cable-network model, but this week, the company showed off a brand new experiment that could become a future reality: Oculus meets Netflix.
The mashup, appropriately dubbed Oculix, shows a user sitting in front of his laptop while wearing the virtual-reality headset to peruse Netflix‘s catalog.
But the real fun begins when the video shows what the Oculus wearer can see, instantly transporting viewers into a virtual room where a floating grid of television shows and films await selection.
The 3D environment can be manipulated via gesture control, enabling the user to select a video, and then view it on a virtual presentation screen.
Netflix’s experiment was put together as part of its annual Netflix Hack Day, during which the company showcases some of the possibilities available to developers who innovate its product.
Other Netflix Hack Day experiments included a Chrome browser extension called Netflix Mini, which allows users to multitask while watching Netflix in the browser, and an interface hack called Circle of Life, which makes the Netflix experience decidedly more tablet-friendly.
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