About this item
A fascinating exploration of the history, development, and future of virtual reality, a technology with world-changing potential, written by award-winning journalist and author David Ewalt, stemming from his 2015 Forbes cover story about the Oculus Rift and its creator Palmer Luckey.You've heard about virtual reality, seen the new gadgets, and read about how VR will be the next big thing. But you probably haven't yet realized the extent to which this technology will change the way we live. We used to be bound to a physical reality, but new immersive computer simulations allow us to escape our homes and bodies. Suddenly anyone can see what it's like to stand on the peak of Mount Everest. A person who can't walk can experience a marathon from the perspective of an Olympic champion. And why stop there? Become a dragon and fly through the universe. But it's not only about spectacle. Virtual and augmented reality will impact nearly every aspect of our lives - commerce, medicine, politics - the applications are infinite. It may sound like science fiction, but this vision of the future drives billions of dollars in business and is a top priority for such companies as Facebook, Google, and Sony. Yet little is known about the history of these technologies. In Defying Reality, David M. Ewalt traces the story from ancient amphitheaters to Cold War military laboratories, through decades of hype and failure, to a nineteen-year-old video game aficionado who made the impossible possible. Ewalt looks at how businesses are already using this tech to revolutionize the world around us, and what we can expect in the future. Writing for a mainstream audience as well as for technology enthusiasts, Ewalt offers a unique perspective on VR. With firsthand accounts and on-the-ground reporting, Defying Reality shows how virtual reality will change our work, our play, and the way we relate to one another.
About the Author
David M. Ewalt is an award-winning journalist, author and speaker. His first book, , was published by Scribner and chosen by Amazon. com as one of the best books of 2013. He is a contributing editor to Magazine, and writes a blog for Forbes. com. He previously served as a senior editor at Forbes, where he co-authored the annual Fictional 15 and helped create two of the magazine's biggest annual issues, America's Best Colleges and The World's Most Powerful People. His byline has appeared in a wide variety of magazines, newspapers, and web sites, ranging from to to He's delivered talks and moderated discussions for world-class organizations including Google, Microsoft, and Sony, and spoken at conferences including Gen Con, PAX Prime, PAX East, New York Comic Con, the Under 30 Summit, the Amazing Meeting, and the Venture Capital in Education Summit. He has appeared as a guest on numerous television and radio programs, including ABC's Good Morning America, NPR's All Things Considered and Weekend Edition, CNBC's Closing Bell, and other programs on CNN, BBC, Fox News and MSNBC. He's been quoted as an expert source by a variety of news outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, Australia's Courier-Mail and China's People's Daily. David lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
