For a few months, the giant Netflix has been marketing the famous virtual reality headset that we find in its new series “The 3-Body Problem”. In the following lines, we invite you to discover all the mysteries surrounding this device. However, a warning: some passages contain crucial revelations for the plot!
The science fiction series The 3-Body Problem has already managed to conquer a (quite shy) audience on the Netflix platform since March 21. For those who do not know it, it is one of the most ambitious and expensive television projects ($20 million for each episode), produced by Game of Thrones writers David Benioff and DB Weiss.
The film has its origins in the novel of the same name that Cixin Liu wrote. In 2016, the work received the Galaxy Award, a Chinese honor that recognizes the most remarkable works in the field of science fiction. The first season is over, an “even better” season 2 is in preparation according to the authors. The VR headset featured in The 3-Body Problem series is already on the market and has caught the attention of many…
The 3-Body Problem: The synopsis
In the series The 3-Body Problem, Ye Wenjie, an astrophysicist marked by the violent death of her father during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, is recruited by the army. Her scientific skills lead her to a remote military base. His reaction to meeting with alien planet has current consequences for a group of scientists. The latter is then forced to face a threat of unprecedented magnitude for humanity.
“In the context of China in the 1960s, a woman makes a decision with devastating consequences that span time and space, affecting a group of contemporary explorers. As the foundations of reality shake, five former partners come together to face a threat on a scale never before seen by humanity,” the series synopsis teases.
The stories transport viewers to places as diverse as Cultural Revolution China, modern day United Kingdom, and even weird virtual reality worlds. The plot of the series revolves around the use of a virtual headset that transports its user into a very realistic video game.
The VR headset with incredible powers of the series
The series takes place in a world where technology has reached very advanced levels. Among the different devices and devices found in the series, we find in particular virtual reality headsets. Thanks to these, users can immerse themselves in a virtual world in an extremely realistic way.
3-Body Problem VR headsets have the ability to offer an immersion of unprecedented realism. Additionally, in this adventure they allow players live new sensory experiences, including the feeling of being killed. At the beginning of the series, Jin Cheng, one of the main characters, attends the funeral of his friend Vera Ye. During this event, Vera’s mother mentions that her daughter used a VR headset shortly before her death and gives it to Jin. When she tries it, she is transported into a hyperrealistic world of the Shang dynasty. On the other hand, Jack Rooney, another main character, meets a fatal experience with this helmet. When he is invited to perform officially, he is transported into his own immersive experience in Tudor England.
The device appears to identify users and presents a multi-sensory experience that even simulates taste and smell. In the series, those wearing the helmets can smell body odors and feel the sensation of a blade cutting their throat.
Once activated, the headset series creates neural connection with the user, and immerses them in experiences similar to lucid dreaming. But this immersive technology arouses many discussions and speculations among the public. In fact, it raises the question of whether such technology could ever be available. Dr. Matt Kenzie answers this question.
The 3-Body Problem helmet of the series remains a utopia
Dr. Matt Kenzie, physicist and scientific advisor to The 3-Body Problem series, expresses doubts that such technology will appear in his lifetime. According to him, there is a condition to reach such a high level of immersion: it would be necessary disrupt brain functionswhich remains unlikely in the near future.
Certainly, contemporary virtual reality technology is capable of creating visual and auditory immersion. In other words, users can see and hear virtual environments very realistically. However, reproducing all the other senses, such as touch, taste and smell, is much more difficult.
In virtual reality, headsets like the Vision Pro can’t reproduce neither the taste, neither smells, nor touch, nor authentic feelings. It is possible to use haptic equipment to simulate tactile interactions. But these experiences remain artificial and far from organic.
Manipulation of neurological signals in the brain would be necessary to allow users to experience all of their senses. And it’s a feat these days beyond the reach of technology. Despite the impressive representation in the series, the development of a wireless headset capable of such performance seems unlikely.
But another question arises: Would we really like the level of immersion offered by the headset. After all, who would want to experience the feelings of to be cut in two with a blade ? On the other hand, this kind of experience risks encouraging some people to permanently escape from the real world.
How the headset works in the series
In the series The 3-Body Problem, access to the virtual reality headset is very limited. It is limited to a limited group of individuals. Once put on, this minimalist device transports the user to a futuristic virtual universe, powered by fictional technologies that the author imagined.
The headset utilizes advanced technology to display images and virtual worlds in users’ minds. Sensors follow their movements, allowing them to interact naturally with this virtual world. In the series, the headset is essential because it takes users into the “Three-Bodies” game. The San-Ti, an advanced alien species, designed the VR game. The goal is to convince the best Earth scientists to join them, and facilitate their arrival on our planet.
Netflix is selling the VR headset that appears in the series
The helmet available for pre-order is a faithful reproduction of the one seen in the series. He is available for purchase on Netflix for $110, but it looks like it’s currently sold out. However, interested buyers can sign up to receive updates if Netflix decides to produce more.
As in the series, no details such as sensors or power buttons are visible. How these headphones work remains largely unknown. There is no information available about them nutrition or their method of operation.
When you look through the device, the visual effect is clear and sharp. In the series, the helmets are made of chrome metal. But the headset sold by Netlix is different. It is covered with a layer of soft material that makes contact with the ears more pleasant. Besides, he has stiff strap which fastens around the head, but this strap is one size fits all. It can accommodate different head sizes without needing to be adjusted. In addition, the helmet conforms to the contours of the face, and has a more comfortable and secure fit when worn.
The helmet weighs very little and you hardly feel it when you wear it on your head. Additionally, it is completely wireless and is easy to use without the need to make complicated adjustments. Finally, the device remains in good condition even after prolonged use, despite its shiny metal construction, which might normally be prone to scratches.
Note that the headset available from Netflix is not designed to play complex video games that require world-saving skills. It’s about from a collector which will bring a bright touch to your living space.
Around the Three Body experience with the helmet
Tri-body immerses you in a an immersive historical adventure, similar to what you might feel while playing “Civilization”. In “Civilization”, you control a civilization and lead it through different eras. You must make political, economic and military decisions to ensure its survival and prosperity. “Three-Body” works on a similar principle, but with a unique twist.
In this game, instead of controlling an already established civilization, you intervene to help society go through a series of disasters. An important part of the gaming experience is discovering what is really behind the events you face. This adds a dimension of suspense and intrigue to the experience.
Tricorp is not like classic survival games like Rust or Minecraft. Instead of simply gathering resources to survive, your mission is much more ambitious. You must to save an alien civilization devastating effects of a tri-solar system plagued by recurring disasters.
It takes time to understand the mechanics of the game But once you master the basics, it will become hard to break away. What makes this game truly unique is its ability to fully immerse you in its virtual world.
This exclusive VR experience is accessible by invitation only. Developers have to gift you a VR headset and send you an invitation to play it.