Controversial founder Palmer Luckey stayed away after it was revealed he funded a pro-Trump organisation

Oculus also developing avatar software and its own VR browser

New social software allows people to take virtual meetings and trips

The VR headset was launched in the US in March 2016

Facebook has unveiled the first virtual reality version of its software.

Mark Zuckerberg showed off the firm's first attempt at social software for the Oculus Rift headset at the Oculus Connect conference in San Francisco.

He also revealed the firm was developing a new midrange VR headset, and said its eventual aim was a pair of VR and AR sunglasses.

Scroll down for video

The first virtual family portrait: Mark Zuckerberg showed off the firm's software for the Oculus Rift headset at the Oculus Connect conference in San Francisco.

The new software allows people to join the same virtual space, and do everything from watch a video to be transported to the surface of Mars.

Zuckerberg was able to transport participants to live video feeds of his office and home, and even call his wife - all in a virtual world.

He then took out a virtual selfie stick to snap a picture - and sent it to his Facebook page with a single click.

He also used Oculus Touch, the firm's soon to be released 3D controller, to change his avatar's emotion - and Facebook said in future versions facial tracking could do this automatically, letting you look surprised, happy or confused in VR.

'Why did you make me look like a young version of Justin Timberlake?' Zuckerberg exclaimed as he donned the headset and saw his own avatar, a question his wife also asked him.

'We should build software and experiences that follow the way our minds work and process the world,' Zuckerberg said.

'Virtual reality is the perfect platform to put people first because of presence.

'The point is we have this space and we can do anything in it,' he said.

Facebook is spending $50m to develop third party VR software, Zuckerberg said, as well as working on its own projects.

'Why did you make me look like a young version of Justin Timberlake,' Zuckerberg exclaimed as he donned the headset and saw his own avatar, a question his wife also asked him.

OCULUS GET TOUCH: $199 CONTROLLERS REVEALED The Oculus Touch controller will be available later this year for $199 Brendan Iribe of Oculus revealed the eagerly awaited Touch controller will go on sale on December 6th for $199. It will use a second sensor to track user's hands, and has touch sensitive buttons to allow objects to be easily picked up. Oculus also showed off a new $49 pair of in ear headphones that can be attached to the headset. It will come with new art creation software called Medium, Oculus said, along with dozens of other games and apps. Advertisement

'The magic of VR software is this feeling of presence,' he said.

'Building this is the single thing I am most excited about. '

The Oculus Rift's eagerly awaited Touch controller is set to go on sale next month, Zuckerberg revealed.

Costing $199, it will allow users to 'touch' and control objects in the virtual world.

Speaking at the Oculus Connect conference, Zuckerberg also revealed over a million headsets now use VR products.

At home with Mark Zuckerberg: Showing off the new software, Zuckerberg donned a headset and was transported into his own living room - even taking a call from his wife and seeing his dog, Beast.

Zuckerberg was able to take a call from him wife during the demo, putting her on screen in the virtual world.

WHERE WAS PALMER LUCKEY? Palmer Luckey founded, Oculus, which was purchased by Facebook for $2 billion in March 2014. Oculus confirmed today that Palmer Luckey, who founded the virtual reality company, Oculus, that was purchased by Facebook for $2 billion in March 2014, 'chose note to attend' the event to avoid being a 'distraction.' He was recently revealed as the cash behind an anti-Clinton organization, Nimble America. Nimble America is an online 'troll' group that says it wants to, 'make America great again with meme magic', the Daily Beast reports. The group's website claims it has paid for a billboard in Pittsburgh that has a caricature of Clinton's face on it and the slogan, 'too big to jail'. The Daily Beast also uncovered a lengthy Reddit post it claims Luckey made under his pseudonym, NimbleRichMan, on a forum for Trump fans. Advertisement

'The next phase of VR is building great software experiences,' he said.

'We're here to make VR the next major computing platform, and at Facebook we're really commited to this, said Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg was also able to transport people to his office for a meeting

Demonstrations also took place underwater, and on the surface of Mars

Users are able to talk to each other and see each other's cartoon-like avatars

'This is really happening.'

'I'm an engineer, and I think you can take anything out there, and make it better.

'We know where we want to improve, its this feeling of real presence, we want lighter, smaller hardware than can do AR and VR

Zuckerberg on Oculus: He said the next phase of VR is building great software experiences.

Oculus also revealed users will be able to create their own avatars to appear on screen, and even create virtual rooms to chat to them.

Oculus Avatars will be able to be used in existing apps and new ones such as a virtual room the first revealed.

'With more than one billion permutations available—from unique textures to clothing, accessories, and more—you can build something that truly represents your own style,' the firm said.

Avatars will be available for Rift at Touch launch and for mobile in early 2017.

The firm also said it will begin selling new sensors that allow users to experience VR at 'room scale', turning their entire living room into a play space.

'We've also created a room-scale option with Touch, using a third sensor for those with enough space,' it said.

The firm also said it is developing its own VR web browser.

Zuckerberg also said Oculus was developing a new, wireless mid range headset to bridge the gap between the Rift and Gear VR.

MEETINGS OF THE FUTURE After the idea first surfaced in the 1980s, virtual reality has finally started to take off - having established its place in video gaming, social networks and even porn. Now experts say soon VR could be coming to the workplace. Virtual business meetings will replace conference calls, as the technology has started to be tested in offices worldwide - and this could happen in the next couple of years. Andrew Glennerster, professor of visual neuroscience at Reading University told MailOnline he is certain VR will replace conference calls in offices across the world. Advertisement

The virtual reality headset launched earlier this year.

The headset from the Facebook-owned firm comes with a price tag of £549, while it costs $599 in the US.

The company offers demos at numerous retailers so that potential buyers can try it out before committing with their hard-earned cash.

Every Rift comes with the VR platform game Lucky's Tale, as well as hundreds of free 3D 360 videos, plus access to the rapidly expanding selection of VR games and videos on the Oculus Store.

Demo titles available at launch will include, Emmy award-winning VR film Henry, planetary experience Farlands and thrill-seeking The Climb.

Buyers can check that their current PC is up to the task of running Oculus' VR software using the firm's online compatibility tool.

The company has also partnered with several major manufacturers to offer 'Oculus Ready PCs' that have been certified as powerful enough to cope with the headset's demands.

Today it revealed advances in software mean that newer PCs from $499 will soon be launched, along with the first laptops capable of supporting the Rift.

There are more than 100 VR games and 'experiences' already available for the Rift, with more than 30 new titles scheduled to launch this year.

The Oculus Rift first landed on Kickstarter in 2012 and after a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign, it was finally bought by Facebook in 2014.

The company will be offering demos of the Oculus Rift headset at numerous retailers so that potential buyers can try it out before committing with their hard-earned cash

There's still some concern that the immersive technology could be uncomfortable for some.

VR developers are trying to combat this by limiting movement in virtual worlds and not inundating players with head-spinning stimuli.

'If you have something for your brain to fixate on as the thing that matches similar inputs you're given when sitting in the real world, you're going to be feeling a lot better,' said Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Oculus, which ignited the latest VR revolution in 2012.