Why 3D audio is the next big step for virtual reality

Almost 90 years ago, in October 1927, the art of storytelling took a dramatic turn when the first “talking picture” or “sound film” was released to audiences around the world. The Jazz Singer was a smash hit, earning more than $2.6 million as it captivated audiences with its Vitaphone technology, the era’s leading sound-on-disc system that would forever change the standard for in-theater experiences. Within just a year, filmmakers encouraged by the success of The Jazz Singer were already developing ways to advance in-theater audio beyond the use of discs and turntables and began migrating to sound-on-film. Regardless, the new multi-media era had been launched. The introduction of sound on top of moving pictures took people to a new dimension.

Fast-forward to today and the art of storytelling in our modern, more virtual world is once again about to be disrupted by another seminal advancement in sound. It’s the use of 3D audio to immerse people more deeply into virtual environments, taking them to a reality that’s, well, much more real.