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This is what using Facebook will be like in the future

Ben Gilbert

2016-04-13T18:34:18Z

Ever since Facebook dropped $2 billion to buy virtual reality leader Oculus VR, the big question has been when the biggest social network in the world will integrate itself into VR.

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On Wednesday, we got our answer:

Facebook in VR — The blue disembodied hand is the hand of Facebook CTO Mike Schroepfer. Across from him, a floating avatar version of Facebook employee Michael Booth floats in the air. Facebook

Facebook CTO Mike Schroepfer got on stage at Facebook's annual developer conference, F8, to offer a taste of what Facebook will look like in VR. Rather than focus on traditional stuff like how your news feed will work, Schroepfer went around the world with a virtual representation of a Facebook colleague. More than just the future of Facebook, he offered a taste of the near future of VR.

Here's what it looks like!

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Schroepfer and Booth started in an empty virtual space. Booth's virtual head movement is a mirror of his actual head movement, even though he's 35 miles away wearing an Oculus Rift headset.

Facebook in VR

Both of them are wearing the Rift headset and using Oculus Touch motion controllers, which enable them to pick up and grab things in virtual reality.

Oculus Rift Oculus Touch — The Oculus Touch controllers are seen here in use. They don't become publicly available until this fall, even though the Rift headset is already out. Oculus VR

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Booth brought along a table full of virtual demos and toys. You see those orbs there? Those are places they can go.

Facebook in VR — And when I say "places they can go," I really mean "360-degree photos." These orbs are virtual representations of hyperlinks, basically. Facebook

You reach out, in real life, pick up the orb with your real hand, and shove it into your face. Voila!

Facebook in VR

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Here's what that looks like in real life in the lower left, and what he's seeing in the upper right.

Facebook in VR

Next, they went to a gorgeous British train station.

Facebook in VR

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Look at that clock! Even though Booth is just a floating cartoon head and a pair of translucent hands, the feeling that you're actually somewhere together is surprisingly realistic.

Facebook in VR — The blue disembodied hand is the hand of Facebook CTO Mike Schroepfer. Across from him, a floating avatar version of Facebook employee Michael Booth floats in the air. Facebook

Here they are at the London Eye, pointing at it!

Facebook in VR

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And here they are in Picadilly Circus, people watching. Again, these are just 360-degree photos, but when you're standing in one, it's an entirely different experience than clicking through one on a computer or phone.

Facebook in VR

More than just talking to each other and pointing at things in photos, there were some mild interaction abilities shown. Like being able to draw objects and turn them into movable items within the virtual world.

Facebook in VR

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You could even draw your own avatar head and use it in VR. This one was created ahead of time by someone who wasn't presenting on a stage.

Facebook

If you don't wear a drawn avatar, you can always use a stock one of a floating head with a VR headset on. You can see both Booth and Schroepfer here together posing for a virtual selfie!

Facebook

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And here's how that selfie looks after Schroepfer's donned the sweet new headgear.

Facebook in VR

You can take as many selfies as you want, and draw on them or not. You can toss the ones you don't like (literally!), and directly post the ones you do like to Facebook.

Facebook in VR

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This one seemed up to snuff. But how do you post it to Facebook?

Facebook in VR

Simple! You drop it in this large Facebook receptacle and it automatically uploads.

Facebook in VR

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Here's the end product, care of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154134148399443&set=a.18009719442.23525.514244442&type=3&theater">Schroepfer's Facebook page</a>:

Facebook VR selfie

Facebook Virtual reality

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