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Virtual Reality Isn't Just For Video Games

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The future looks like it will be filled with virtual reality.

Developers at The Nerdery in Bloomington have been tinkering with a device called the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset initially designed for video games. You might have heard of it after Facebook acquired its maker for $2 billion.

Ryan Carlson, a technology evangelist at the Nerdery, says the Rift gives you the feeling you're in another place.

The headset works by displaying two images on separate high-definition screens, one for each eye. It also has motion sensors, to track your head movements and accordingly change the images you're seeing.

But the technology isn't just for video games. Developers at the Nerdery used it to create an application that allows you to compare siding choices on a beach house.

"It was just a short, rapid prototype, just to prove the technology," said Scott Bromander, a developer.

Developers are already starting to work with an updated version of the Rift.

However, the headset won't be ready for the public for at least another year.

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