One of the most anticipated events in the virtual reality and immersive tech scene was none other than Somnium Connect 2024. Hosted at the Marriott hotel in the vibrant city of Prague on July 12th, 2024, we were on the ground, soaking up the energy, scouting the latest trends, and zeroing in on the tech that’s making waves.
Organized by Somnium Space, Somnium Connect was buzzing with excitement. The event boasted a lineup of inspiring presentations, demos, and keynotes from trailblazers sharing their visions for the future. Among the standout moments were the world premiere of the Somnium VR1 headset and a sneak peek at the game-changing Somnium Space 3.0 update, set to launch at the end of July or early August.
You can watch the entire event in the video below:
One thing that really stands out is that both the VR1 headset and the Somnium Space VR platform are products of a true passion for immersive technology and a commitment to delivering top-notch quality on every front. For the VR1, that translates to perfection in—this is in no particular order—the form factor, comfort, optical stack, image quality, clarity and brightness, sweet spot, field of view, software, modularity, configurability, and even packaging. If you didn’t know better, you might think “whatever,” but the VR1 is even more impressive than anticipated. Somnium’s attention to every detail shines through no matter how you look at it. This truly is a masterpiece.
Now, it’s clear that no headset is perfect, and different users have different experiences and opinions. But that fact makes the overwhelmingly positive reactions at the demo booths even more impressive. True, the VR1 isn’t for every budget, but this product is top-of-the-line, built in the European Union, and represents the pinnacle of VR technology.
Artur at one of the demo booths
The VR1 took center stage throughout the day, with multiple breaks dedicated to the demo booths where enthusiasts could test the VR1 in various setups, don the incredible Teslasuit and Teslaglove, immerse themselves with the innovative Lynx-R, and experiment with the etee controllers from TG0.
The amazing Teslaglove
Presentations featured speakers such as Artur Sychov from Somnium Space (of course), Marek Polcak from VRgineers, Emily Savage from Ultraleap, Adam Charkaui from TG0, Stan Larroque from Lynx, Marc Demar from Authencity.io, Arthur Rabner from Hypervision, Isaac Gindi and Blake Hotz from ISG, and Jaroslav Holy from OMG.
Arthur Rabner from Hypervision
Robert Scoble, American blogger, tech evangelist, and author, delivered a particularly fascinating keynote titled “Metaverse 2.0.” In it, he took the audience on a thrilling journey into the future, exploring how AI and VR technologies will shape and transform our world.
Artur Sychov himself hosted an Pixel Slaves podcast live on stage, with YouTubers SadlyitsBradley, Tyriel Wood, David Haney and Scott Hayden.
Fireside chat at Somnium Connect
There was a palpable sense of excitement and curiosity at the event. It is something special to see people from diverse backgrounds—ranging from enthusiasts and developers to investors and entrepreneurs—gather to explore the latest innovations and network with like-minded individuals.
The consensus is that significant change is inevitable. We’re still in the early stages of VR and XR technologies, but the focus will eventually shift from hardware discussions to discussions about the immersive worlds and experiences these technologies can deliver.
In that regard, the Somnium Space community is ahead of the curve, having been building for years. Now, with the upcoming Somnium 3.0 update—best experienced through a VR1 headset of course—they’re poised to take another leap into the future. A future where superior fidelity, immersion, and functionality come together seamlessly.
For this community, the future has already begun..
No Somnium Connect without an epic afterparty. DJ Shodah sets the venue on fire.
We can confidently conclude that Somnium Connect 2024 was a resounding success, leaving attendees inspired and full of anticipation. With groundbreaking products like the Somnium VR1 headset, visionary updates like Somnium Space 3.0, and the array of technologies presented by the lineup of speakers, the future of immersive technologies looks brighter than ever.