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Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality White Paper Summary (2017)

Core Content

This white paper provides an overview of the development status, key technologies, and industry trends of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in 2017, highlighting their significance in the context of new-generation information and communications technologies. It outlines the evolution of VR concepts, the technological and industrial landscape, and development recommendations for telecom operators.

Main Points

1. Evolution of VR Concept and Form Factors

• The VR concept has evolved from terminal devices to immersive experiences.
• VR terminals are transitioning from single form factors to multiple ones, including phone-based, PC-based, and all-in-one.
• The global market is dominated by phone-based VR, which accounted for over 80% of market share in 2016 and is expected to maintain its dominance until 2020.
• AR and VR are gradually being separated, with AR focusing on vertical applications and VR on mass markets like games and social media.

2. VR Rises Due to Lowered Threshold, Focused Capital, and Policy Support

• Hardware costs for VR have decreased significantly due to advancements in optoelectronics and microelectronics.
• Major tech companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple have invested heavily in VR and AR, with the US and China leading in investment.
• The US government has supported VR through national strategies and special projects, while China has included VR in its national development plans like the "Made in China 2025" and "Internet+".
• Provincial and municipal governments in China are actively building VR industrial parks and labs to promote local growth.

3. VR as a Development Focus in the AI Era

• The shift from "Mobile First" to "AI First" is a global trend in the information and communications industry.
• VR and AI are closely linked in rendering processing, perception interaction, and universal AI.
• AI enables scenario splitting, identification, and 3D modeling, which are crucial for VR development.
• VR provides a platform for AI to accumulate training data, especially in virtual environments.

Key Technology Trends

2.1 VR Technology Architecture

• The VR technology architecture includes five main fields: near-eye display, rendering processing, perception and interaction, network transmission, and content creation.
• These fields are organized into three hierarchies, with the first being the core technologies and the second and third being more detailed components and tools.

2.2 Near-Eye Display Technologies

• High Angular Resolution and Wide FOV: These are key to enhancing immersive experience. PPD (pixels per degree) is a more suitable metric than PPI (pixels per inch) for VR displays.
• Dizziness Control: A major challenge in VR. Industry solutions include improving screen resolution, response time, and reducing MTP latency. Vergence accommodation conflict (VAC) remains a key unresolved issue.
• Leading Screen Technologies: AMOLED, LCOS, and OLEDoS are the leading technologies in near-eye displays. AMOLED is favored for its fast response time and lower power consumption, while LCOS and OLEDoS are preferred for AR due to their high resolution and light efficiency.

2.3 Perception and Interaction Technologies

• Tracking and Positioning: A core technology in VR and AR, essential for immersive interaction.
• Environment Understanding: Based on machine vision, this is a trend in AR perception and interaction.
• Multi-Channel Interaction: A key trend in VR for enhancing user experience through multiple input methods.

2.4 Network Transmission Technologies

• High Bandwidth, Low Latency, and Large Capacity: These are the main requirements for VR network transmission.
• Access Network Trends: New Wi-Fi, large-capacity PON, and 5G are the key access technologies.
• Bearer Network Trends: Simple architecture, smart pipes, multicast on demand, and network isolation are developing trends.
• Low-Latency Data Centers: Essential for cloud-based VR computing.
• Optimization Technologies: Projection, coding, and transmission technologies are critical for improving network performance.
• Network O&M and Evaluation: Important for enhancing user experience.

2.5 Rendering Processing Technologies

• Enhanced rendering algorithms and capabilities are a key trend, driven by the need for better image quality and shorter rendering times.
• Deep learning-based rendering technologies are expected to significantly improve image quality and reduce rendering latency.

Industry Ecosystem Trends

3.1 VR Industry Ecosystem

• The VR industry ecosystem is dominated by components/devices, tools/platforms, and content applications.
• The ecosystem is still evolving, with a focus on integrated innovation.

3.2 Development Focuses

• Perception and Interaction: Becoming the next development focus due to its importance in user experience.
• Content Creation: Gaining increasing attention as VR applications expand.

3.3 IPR Competition

• Global IPR development has entered a rapid growth stage, with China and the US leading in investment.
• In 2017, patent applications in VR focused on display, interaction, modeling, locating, camera, headset, and application areas.

3.4 VR/AR+ Era

• VR/AR are being integrated into various industries:
  • VR+ Smart Manufacturing: VR is the key driver.
  • VR+ Medicine: Used in surgery training, psychiatry, and rehabilitation.
  • VR+ Games/Social Networking: Expected to be the biggest driver of the VR industry.
  • VR+ Movie/Live Broadcast: Becoming a new form of display.

Development Recommendations for Operators

4.1 Core Link in the VR Industry Chain

• Telecom operators are crucial in ensuring the VR service experience and enabling its popularization.

4.2 Evolution of VR Service Forms

• Operators should drive the evolution from virtual cinemas to live VR and then to cloud-based VR services.

4.3 VR Service Development Recommendations

• Focus on improving user experience through network optimization, content creation, and integrated innovation.
• Invest in key technologies such as perception interaction, rendering processing, and network transmission.
• Collaborate with industry players to build a robust VR ecosystem.

Key Information

• VR/AR is a key field in new-generation information and communications technology.
• The VR service development is divided into four levels: Entry-level, Partial, Deep, and Fully Immersion.
• The main challenges in VR include dizziness control and the need for high-resolution, low-latency displays.
• The white paper highlights the importance of IPR, network infrastructure, and content production in the VR industry.
• The global VR market is expected to grow significantly, with the US and China leading in investment and development.
• The integration of VR with AI and the emergence of the VR/AR+ era are key trends shaping the future of the industry.