Kiwis to get a master class in Virtual Reality

Kiwis to get a master class in Virtual Reality from Noel Leeming

Noel Leeming will be transporting New Zealanders to a new virtual world at their Queen Street store from today with the country’s first demonstrations of HTC Vive – the most advanced Virtual Reality yet.

The kiwi electronics and appliances retailer has brought an HTC Vive headset to New Zealand to be able to give customers a Virtual Reality (VR) master class experience. While the technology isn’t expected to be available in New Zealand retail until later this year, for the next two weeks people can head into Noel Leeming Queen Street to experience the next evolution of VR.

Unlike current VR software and headsets on the market, HTC Vive allows people to walk around and interact with the environment around them. While other VR headsets deliver a passive and stationary experience, HTC Vive is an immersive experience that uses wireless controllers to deliver a sense of touch, plus high end graphics and 360 degree motion tracking.

Noel Leeming CEO Tim Edwards says that as New Zealand’s leading consumer electronics and appliances retailer, Noel Leeming wants to delight kiwis with new technology experiences that will blow their minds.

“We’re delighted to be able to give New Zealanders the opportunity to experience the latest in Virtual Reality technology. The HTC Vive is what the world is talking about and Kiwis no longer need to imagine what it feels like. They can come and take ten minutes to experience the future, now,” says Edwards.

Customers will be able to experience “The Lab” - a compilation of VR content or “experiments” by content developer Valve. There will be eight experiments that include games, unique and exotic places, a solar system experience plus a creative application with Google Tilt Brush.

HP has provided Noel Leeming with an HP Envy Phoenix desktop, a high performance and powerful PC that has the necessary features to drive the HTC Vive.

The HTC Vive will be on show at the Noel Leeming Queen Street store until 4 July. It will then be available for demonstrations in other stores around the country.

ENDS

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