With today’s graphic cards offering near photorealistic visuals, it’s hard to imagine what another 2 decades of improvement will bring. As it is, PC video games make you feel like you’re part of a movie. Since the video card is already among the most complex components of any PC, and it only stands to reason that this role will only expand with time. Here’s a peek at the three capabilities we’re hoping computer video cards will have developed by 2035:

Virtual Reality

The idea of a computer simulated environment isn’t a new one—variations on the theme have existed since the dawn of computers. But PC gamers have yet to taste the complete freedom of a genuine VR experience from their own home computers. Research is already under way to develop virtual reality technology that will engage not only sight and sound, but all 5 senses. Video cards that project the necessary laser beams to manipulate the brain’s sense of smell and taste, while working directly with a VR suit worn by the gamer to create an artificial reality world? Why not.

Holograms

The idea of life sized, animated holograms has fascinated those in the field of computer sciences for years. Buzz about the concept recently resurfaced during presidential election coverage when CNN “hologramed” in correspondents; igniting a flurry of curiosity about the idea. Unfortunately, those holograms were not actually projected onto the studio floor. We’re thinking that in another 25 years, this technology should be perfected, making chat rooms and instant messengers a lot more fun.

A True 3D Experience

Forget red and blue plastic eye glasses, the time for genuine 3D has come. Games, videos, pictures, movies, and web cams with the ability to literally leap off the screen and create a complete viewing experience are not that far off. Across the nation, scientists and tech specialists are busily studying the way the human eye works, in order to create a video card with 3 dimensional capabilities. What’s more, the 3D images of the future are being designed to reduce the eye strain and fatigue traditionally associated with these display screens.

A little over 50 years ago, the world gathered around their small family televisions to watch the first color TV broadcast. Today, we can watch our favorite high definition programs in our cars, while flying across the country, or from our smart phones—right in the palm of our hands. We can’t be completely sure exactly what the video capabilities of tomorrow will be. But the future of computer graphics looks very bright, indeed.

Before you decide which video card you are going to buy, you need to know what you are looking for. You should decide what kind of card you are going to need before you take your trip to the nearest electronics store. Otherwise, a salesperson is going to catch wandering the aisles, find out what you are perusing, and do their best to try and sell you the most expensive version that you can use. Choosing before you get to the store will save you a lot of unnecessary expense.

What Type of Video Card Do You Need?

The first thing you need to consider when buying a video card is what it will be used for. When you install a video card in your computer, you should know before hand that it will be compatible with your system. Even if buy a card that is a great price and can do everything you want it to, it will be a waste of your money if it will not even work with your computer. Also, if you are if you are going to be using the video card in a laptop, you should look into buying a more advance video card than you would for a PC. This will help prevent your motherboard from burning out quickly due to a heavy usage of graphics.

Secondly, think about what the card needs to be able to do? Will you be playing high-resolution 3D computers games on your computer everyday? Do you want to be able to stream videos constantly? If that is the case, you are going to want a video card that is capable of handling that kind of content, which can get pretty pricey. If, on the other hand you only need a graphics card that can handle everyday uses, like the occasion video or basic game, you probably can get by with something much more simple.

Choosing the right video card will make a huge difference to how you are able to use you computer, so choose carefully. Be certain that you buy one that fits your needs and has a good warrantee in case of any problems. Also make sure that the company who makes the card will provide you will tech support if needed.