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This Year's Festival of Dangerous Ideas Will Have Two Free VR Experiences

Experience what it's like to be put in a solitary-confinement cell.
Kat Hayes
August 31, 2016

Overview

This year's Festival of Dangerous Ideas is, among other things, bringing us the likes of Alicia Garza, Henry Rollins, and, uh, Andrew Bolt which seems like a dangerous idea in itself, to be honest. But aside from people, the festival is also providing on the 'cool things' front by casually installing THE FUTURE (virtual reality experiences) in the Sydney Opera House foyers.

Thanks to The Guardian and The Economist, you can strap a little white box to your face and call it the year 2060. Each will have a VR component at the festival, so you've got choices for experiencing virtual goodness. The Guardian's effort is called 6x9 and will put you in a solitary confinement cell, 6 feet-wide by 9 feet-long, and allow you to briefly experience what being kept in isolation feels like.

On the other hand, The Economist is tackling the sea, as their environment correspondent Miranda Johnson will be talking out the issue of overfishing in a ticketed event, along with ABC The Business presenter Ticky Fullerton. Their free VR offering Oceans VR: Net Positive will allow users to explore the deep unknown, so it's for you unless you have a fear of deep sea diving.

Both virtual reality experiences will be located in the Western Foyers of the Sydney Opera House and will be free as part of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas — foyers open from 9.30am.

Image: Prudence Upton.

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