This Oculus Rift experiment lets users experience the pain of lag in real life

A new Oculus Rift virtual reality experiment has its subjects experiencing one of gaming's most frustrating technical issues--"lag"--in a real-world scenario.

Released by broadband service provider ume.net as a means to promote its own product, the "Living With Lag" video shows people trying to play table tennis, cook food, participate in a dance class, and go bowling while an modified Oculus Rift headset simulates a delay in what they are seeing/experiencing. Just like in gaming, lag in real life quickly becomes problematic.

The Oculus Rift--which is still in a non-final, development state--has already produced some imaginative simulations of what would otherwise be impossible or too dangerous. In the past year, developers have created a guillotine simulator, while another group used the Oculus Rift as a means to allow people to virtually swap bodies. And most recently, a grandmother diagnosed with cancer used Oculus Rift to virtually walk outside just months before she passed away.

In a surprise move last month, Facebook purchased Oculus VR--maker of the Oculus Rift--for $2 billion. Oculus Rift creator Palmer Luckey acknowledged that deal certainly came out of left field, but has since explained why it makes sense for the future of virtual reality.

Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
Filed under: Video Games

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