WordPress and VR
Content Management Systems have completely changed the world of websites, and because of them creating online content is no longer a magic power exclusive to developers. We are about to experience the same changes for more immersive technologies such as VR, AR, and MR. The ingredients are all there for the new market to surge, but it lacks structure: there are game engines like Unity and Unreal, dozens of platforms for VR/AR creation without programming skills like BrioVR, and platforms for quick and easy VR management like Varwin. What doesn’t exist (yet) is one clear approach that allows anyone to create VR/AR content. This is exactly what Content Management Systems have enabled with the growth of WordPress.
WordPress’s mission statement seems clear today, but back in 2003 it sounded wild: “WordPress provides the opportunity for anyone to create and share, from handcrafted personal anecdotes to world-changing movements. People with a limited tech experience can use it “out of the box”, and more tech-savvy folks can customize it in remarkable ways.”
This is essentially the same mission as VR/AR today. The opportunity for absolutely anyone, from a geeky developer to an old farmer, to create VR/AR projects using the same platform sounds a bit crazy.
VR Content Market
Today’s VR content market is in the same place that the website market was years ago, when only developers could produce decent sites with great design while common users could barely create a simple landing page.
There are some VR CMS tools on the market today. At this point, most of them allow managing 360 videos and using 3D objects. They give some flexibility, but not enough freedom to create complex scenarios and interactive stories. Most of the VR CMS or drag-n-drop tools today are just like landing page tools from years ago: they only give a taste of how the future could look.
Unlike VR CMS tools, Reality Management Systems will allow creating projects with complex logics in both VR and AR, or whatever these will be called in a few years.
CMS and RMS
A typical Сontent Management System has two components: the front-end user interface (a content management application that allows users to add, modify, or remove content even without the help of a webmaster) and a content delivery application which compiles that information and updates the website.
The same strategy can easily work with RMS: one side is for non-programmers, another one does the magic and brings these creations to life.
The main features of WordPress include plugin architecture and a template system. The closest tool to WordPress in the XR world is the Varwin platform. Just like in WordPress, it has an interface-like template system, where users can manage content without writing a single line of code - only instead of web themes Varwin houses VR scenes and objects. Plugin architecture in WordPress enables extended features and functionality for websites. Instead of this, Varwin has a plugin for Unity, which allows for adding new logics, interactivity, scenes, and objects that can be used in the future. This part usually requires some code as it creates the basis for non-coding users.
The WordPress plugin architecture also enables users and developers to share their own plugins with the rest of the community. The Varwin VR platform also expands its functionality thanks to the community: developers can contribute and reuse objects, logics, and scenes. This makes VR creation a much easier process.
Community
WordPress has pushed forward thanks to a huge community of contributors that made it the most popular solution for website creation.
Just like websites, the VR world needs its developers and community to push the ecosystem forward and make it open for everyone.
“We believe great software should work with minimum set up, so you can focus on sharing your story, product, or services freely” — says the WordPress mission statement. This statement is more than applicable to the XR ecosystem. Once we have an engaged community and a good user interface for VR platforms, everything else will work automatically. Reality Management Systems are already here to boost the XR market. Now is your chance to become part of this revolution.
