As more headsets, software, and companies enter the virtual reality industry, more collaborations between different entities will take place. Growth and efficiency can be increased when different creative and research teams start to share information, and that understanding may be the root of this new development. Multiple major companies are joining forces to create the GVRA or Global Virtual Reality Association.
The collective includes Google, HTC Vive, Acer Starbreeze, Oculus, Samsung, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. Detailed on the group’s new website and the summary of their ambitions, the GVRA is aiming to “develop best practices and share them openly”:
This group believes in VR’s immense global potential and the opportunities ahead – it will change the landscape of education, training, healthcare, and design, among many other areas. While seeking to educate consumers, governments, and industry about VR’s potential, the association wants to get ahead of challenges with developing and deploying the technology responsibly. That’s why we feel it’s important to bring together international experts across industry to work collaboratively on global education, potential technical challenges, and promoting best practices in the field.
The collective has the potential to be a great resource that overcomes individual shortcomings and/or barriers with the efforts of the whole. Each of the companies involved have already begun to blaze their own paths into this growing industry, but teamwork of this kind will be crucial as they all start to tap into the unknown. Strangely, though, there’s a glaring omission from the team: Valve Corporation, which partnered with HTC to power the Vive headset. Still, there’s nothing stopping the GVRA from growing and adding more companies to the group. We’ll update on the GVRA’s movements as they’re made evident.
