Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Oculus Flix
This is how Netflix would look if it decided to embrace virtual reality
“Woah, it’s like I’m sitting in my own living room.”
DEMOS INVOLVING THE VR headset Oculus Rift may have involved riding on a rollarcoaster or cliff diving, but a new experiment from Netflix’s engineers shows what it would be like if it was a home entertainment system.
The idea, called Oculix, places users into a 3D room where they can select a movie or show from a number of floating grids. It was created as part of Netflix Hack Day, an event which allows engineers to experiment and create different features for the service.
The interface is gesture controlled, allowing users to browse titles and select what they want, before it’s presented to them on a virtual screen.
The company’s engineers came up with a number of other ideas including Netflix Hue, which changes the colour of Philips smart lightbulbs to match what’s on screen.
And an alternative display for the home page.
Netflix held a similar event back in February where its engineers came up with a sleep tracking feature, a service which allows you to share videos by bumping Apple devices together and PIN-protected profiles.
have your say