Enterprise D As Never Experienced Before

Boldly Going?
Credit: Enterprise D Construction Project

Over the weekend, an NPR story on technology ended with the assertion that in the very near future, denying people access to virtual worlds would soon come to be viewed as repressing a fundamental human right.

Absurd yes? Fresh air, sunshine, the sea; who could possibly become some enraptured in virtual creations that losing them would be equivalent to spending a few days in county? More than a few apparently.

And perhaps quite a few more if the Enterprise D construction project reaches its stretch goals.

“The Enterprise 3D project aims to create this vessel in its entirety, in the Unreal 4 game engine. Yes, this means it will be Oculus rift ready! The goal is to be able to walk the entire length of the ship, without interruption or load times. Previous virtual tours have not gone far enough. They usually are 360 degree panoramic, without actual movement or immersion. The virtual Enterprise should feel seamless and like you are actually on board the ship. Because of the sheer volume of what needs to be created, a modular approach to the ship construction will be taken. But each and every room will be accessible, and unique in some way. This means filling in and creating rooms never before seen on the budget-restricted show.”