Oculus takes aim at mainstream with inexpensive gear, video as virtual reality tipped to be the next big thing

Virtual reality is taking a few steps closer to the mainstream with Samsung unveiling a headset that brings the technology to its latest smartphones at half the price of its previous model, Facebook launching support for 360-degree video, and online video services like Netflix and Hulu jumping into the format.

The announcements at a developers conference in Los Angeles for virtual reality technology company Oculus represent attempts to push the platform beyond a video-gamer-focused niche.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who cut a deal to buy Oculus for US$2 billion last year, told some 1,500 conference attendees Thursday that virtual reality is "the next logical step" in online sharing after text, photos and video.

"In just a few years, VR has gone from being this science fiction dream to an awesome reality," he said.

"And now we all here have a chance to change the way we play, communicate and collaborate."

Zuckerberg showed off a promo for the upcoming Star Wars movie showing a speeding vehicle zooming over the desert landscape of fictional planet Jakku. Users can look around in any direction using their mouse as the video is playing.