The Return of the Magic Stage
In 2016, with Facebook’s $2B purchase of the Oculus VR headset, and the release of their first commercial developer’s headset, the Virtual Reality industry, moribund since it’s first failed start in the early 90’s, began the rapid development seen today. While still five or six years away from a true mass market product, the entire idea of VR has suddenly reappeared.
VR Is Back
In early 2019, spurred by this new interest in VR, and needing a compelling technology to tell the story of the Overview Effect/Planetary Awareness, David began searching out new collaborators and funders for the Stage and a more cognitive/media theory version of the Overview Effect. By early 2020, a few such supporters began suggesting that a new site was needed, combining all of the cognitive, media theory, simulation technology of the Magic Stage (which had originally attracted the New Space leader to his work) into one coherent and compelling site.
Launched
The Center for Planetary Identity was launched in February 2021, and now we add the Magic Stage. From the very beginning of the Overview Project, Douglas Trumbull and David began developing and refining a venue model that would use one or both of their advanced immersive technologies to tell the story of the space experience, and its potentially worldview/paradigm shifting effect on mind and society. They called this venue Another Planet. Once we get the Stage in early development, we will have a lot more to say about Another Planet.
To the Future
With the Overview Institute, OI - Australia, an OI - Germany in discussions, The Human Space Program in motion, The Center for Planetary Identity up and running, and now the Magic Stage returning, we have the basic platforms and technologies to begin a serious effort of bringing the worldview/paradigm shifting space experience of the New Space Age into the World.