Bloomberg LP has built a prototype of its data terminal hooked up to the virtual-reality headset Oculus Rift, reports Zachary Seward of Quartz.
Seward writes, “The virtual screens aren’t connected to an actual terminal; they are screenshots and videos. And you manipulate the experience with a clunky mouse, though Peck is working to add gesture control with a Leap Motion.
“Still, as a proof of concept, it succeeds. Lots of Bloomberg terminal customers obsess over the arrangement of charts, data, alerts, and messages on their displays at work. Peck said, ‘I really wanted to explore how virtual reality could solve one of the most basic problems we hear about: limited screen real estate’
“Bloomberg is already increasing the size of the twin screens in its standard terminal setup from 17 inches diagonally to 21 and, eventually, 23 inches. The terminal’s software also supports custom arrangements that can become absurdly complex. But you can only fit so many pixels onto a real-life trading floor. With Oculus, the terminal screens—or any screen, really—can expand in any direction without limit.
“Moreover, a virtual workspace could be transported home, where terminal setups are typically far less elaborate. Screen arrangements could easily change based on time of day. Colleagues could come together from different parts of the world. Data visualizations could add a third dimension of analysis.”
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