We recently talked about virtual reality with the way we do business, and virtual reality in general has been the talk of the proverbial digital town with the upcoming release of Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR and other VR devices. But one thing that’s been getting ignored is augmented reality, the current and more ubiquitous form of reality-altering technology. Maybe that’s why the recently released indie movie Creative Control seems so interesting.
Written by Micah Bloomberg and Benjamin Dickinson and directed by Dickinson, Creative Control looks to explore the idea of augmented reality in a world that’s only “5 minutes in the future.” Set in New York, Creative Control takes places in a near future where New Yorkers have increasing levels of anxiety thanks to the increase of dependency on devices. One such man, David, becomes addicted to augmented reality glasses from a company called Augmenta that begins to blur reality and fantasy together.
The most interesting part to me is the idea presented in the trailer, which you can view below: enhancing life “with a magical layer” in front of it. Many have decried the idea of virtual reality, citing the possibility to addiction and delusions; and yet augmented reality could lead to just as many delusional fantasies, especially considering that differences between augmented and virtual reality. Virtual reality is a wholly different world: escapists can jump into it and become addicted to it in their free time. Augmented reality enhances our real world, and escapists could conceivably be addicted to it at all times.
Sight Systems, which you can view below, is a 2012 short-film by Eran May-raz and Daniel Lazo that really dives into the ways augmented reality could both enhance and detach us from reality. Augmented reality both allows the main character to make boring tasks more appealing and encouraging, but also allows him to build false relationships based on nothing but data and special programs.
Does this mean augmented reality is evil? No. Google Glass came out and the world is still the same. It hasn’t become the world-changing product it seemed it would be, yet, but it is something that will become a part of life in the decades ahead. The way it affects out lives depends on how much we allow it to, but the illusion may be hard to break once it gets going. How do you feel about augmented reality? And virtual reality? Let us know in the comments below.
Produced by Magnolia Pictures and Amazon Studios, Creative Control has debuted in selected theaters this weekend and will be streaming exclusively sometime in the future on Amazon Prime. For more on the film, check out the Creative Control website and check out the trailer and TV spot below.
Creative Control TV Spot
Creative Control Trailer
Sight Systems Short-Film
Source: Tech Crunch