Future Stories: The Future Of Your Friday Night TV

Each month on Future Stories, we bring you a little closer to the future of everyday life. Episode three: The Future Of Your Friday Night TV. Could a VR headset soon become a normal part of your family night in front of the telly, or your weekend cinema date? Virtual reality is an industry that’s set to be worth 38 billion euro worldwide by 2025, a clear sign that the world of entertainment is changing fast. This month, we don a headset to check out Ireland’s first virtual reality film, Aurora, created by Pink Kong Studios in Dublin. Plus, we chat to Colum Slevin from his offices at Oculus VR in San Francisco, where his team are charting a brand new path for virtual reality, less about isolated games and more about socialising and stories. And VR might be new to Ireland, but we’re embracing it fast. We visit Future Shock VR arcade in Dublin, where groups of friends, colleagues and even couples come to hang out together - and shoot a few zombies while they’re at it. Join us as we look ahead to the future of your Friday night TV. Brought to you by TheJournal.ie in partnership with Volkswagen. Narrator: Paula Lyne Producer: Brian from Headstuff Theme Music: Glenn Malone Graphic Design: Orla Finn Contributors (in order): Niamh Herrity, Pink Kong Studios Aoife Doyle, Pink Kong Studios Colum Slevin, Head Of Experiences with Oculus VR Conor Gannon, Future Shock Aurora theme and sound effects used with permission of Pink Kong Studios.