Search Box

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Too Young For Virtual Reality (VR)?

Too Young for VR? PlayStation VR Sets 13+ Age Limit

Sherri L. Smith | March 7, 2016



If the PlayStation VR was a movie, it'd be rated PG-13. According to VRFocus, Sony's PS4-dependent VR headset will have an age limit of 13 years and older, leaving tweens on the sidelines of the VR fun.
Notes on the potential age barrier come by way of a beta software update for the PlayStation 4. The update notes state, "The VR headset is not to be used by children under 12 years of age. Check what is around and remove barriers before use. Take measures to prevent pets, children or other obstacles from getting into the area before use." This is in addition to the usual warnings of motion sickness, nausea and disorientation that typically accompany VR devices.
This restriction isn't anything new, as both the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift have instituted similar policies on their systems. However, Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe has said that the companybeing acquired by Facebook had a big influence on the 13-year age requirement. 

Green PG-13_Hv_CS3
As students fill the hallways of our schools on their first day back, there is a major change afoot for those kids under the age of 13.  Students in the pre-teen realm have always had less options when it came to personalization and use of certain websites/social media.  While some of those rules still apply when it comes to the web, Apple’s new system of allowing districts to issue Apple IDs for those students under the age of 13 (with parental consent) means that the days of every elementary students having the same standardized iPad are in the past.  Source: http://hookedoninnovation.com/tag/students/

<more at http://www.tomsguide.com/us/playstation-vr-age-limit,news-22357.html; related links and articles: http://vrfocus.com/archives/16095/oculus-rift-age-limit/ (Oculus CEO Explains 13+ Age Limit, 'Definitely' Wants VR for Kids. June 4, 2015) and http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/08/sony-playstation-vr-age-rating/ (PlayStation VR has a lower age limit than Oculus Rift. VR companies are thinking of the children. March 8, 2016)>

No comments:

Post a Comment