Virtual reality has never been short of hype, but a group of academics think 2018 could finally be its year.
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They say the combination of decreasing cost and size of equipment is making VR - which uses computer technology to create a simulated environment usually projected on a headset - more accessible.
New collaborative courses at ANU, which incorporate the schools of music, computer science and art and design, are giving students from all disciplines the chance to work with new and experimental media.
Among them is introduction to VR, a school of art and design course that collaborates closely with IT and music, giving students a chance to design their own project.
They hope they will be creating the next generation of influential designers.
Dr Kit Devine, a lecturer in photography and media arts, said the course came on the back of significant development in the field.
"This is the year of VR I think," she said.
"The cost of equipment and size has dropped to a point that it's entry level.
"Students will be learning a bit of coding, a bit of 3D modelling, animation, music and just how to put it all together into an immersive experience."
Dr Devine said in the future VR would be like computer graphics generally, used in all areas of society.
Dr Ben Swift, a lecturer in the school of computer science, said there was a lag in people writing the software in order to take full advantage of the hardware.
"You don't come to uni to build yesterday's stuff, you come to build tomorrow's stuff," Dr Swift said.
"No one knows exactly what that stuff is yet, but we want to provide an environment where people can come together and figure out what that looks like."
And while it's been said before, he think the time is right for VR to make a real impact on all sections of society.
"I think this about the third time people have said, 'Yeah, VR is here'," Dr Swift said.
"I think there's a feeling that maybe this time it's not a drill.
"If VR is going to take over the world, it's not because we can buy a piece of hardware. It will be because we've got people with the skills to design these experiences."