Nowadays, every event is captured though video and photos. While this is very helpful for watching events that one is unable to attend, we often use this as an excuse to not attend something in person. How many times have we told ourselves, “I will just watch the video when it comes out”? I know I have, too many times to count. 

I attended an inter-university cultural competition recently after a gap of 3 years. And I realised what I had been missing out on the last three years – feeling the palpable energy, excitement, frenzy, ecstasy, tears and a range of other emotions. Being in that room surrounded by cheers and booing, joy and sadness, success and disappointment, and most important of all, the heart-warming camaraderie, was an amazing experience and made even the rushed cab journey worth it. 

Being physically present as an audience makes you feel like you are part of the show and that is something you don’t get while viewing digitally captured moments on a screen several miles away. 

P. S. How far can advancements in VR authentically replicate that experience? It will be interesting to find out.