Some interesting thoughts on VR

[alexh]

The problem described in the video doesn't exist. We are not suddenly going to go "Ready Player One" or even enter the Metaverse (at least not with this product). The users who are going to buy this will be using it as an alternate HID (human interface device) with increased productivity. It's not aimed at regular consumers but office workers, engineers etc.

Sci-fi movies have existed since film began and they are not real world, they transport the user to somewhere they can't go in real life, for a short time. Did the world consider cinema disrupting social life like this? I think not.

I got a PSVR but never use it. Maybe during a party to get everyone playing social games like Beat-Sabre. The quality of the immersion isn't good enough to be fun for more than an hour. Perhaps as technology improves... but I can't see it improving that much within our lifetime. Even the latest headsets don't solve issues that were identified 30+ years ago that were solvable 30 years ago but not implemented because the solutions were not economically viable. They should be today but they have been ignored.

[rubber_jonnie]

The problem described in the video doesn't exist. We are not suddenly going to go "Ready Player One" or even enter the Metaverse (at least not with this product). The users who are going to buy this will be using it as an alternate HID (human interface device) with increased productivity. It's not aimed at regular consumers but office workers, engineers etc.

Sci-fi movies have existed since film began and they are not real world, they transport the user to somewhere they can't go in real life, for a short time. Did the world consider cinema disrupting social life like this? I think not.

I got a PSVR but never use it. Maybe during a party to get everyone playing social games like Beat-Sabre. The quality of the immersion isn't good enough to be fun for more than an hour. Perhaps as technology improves... but I can't see it improving that much within our lifetime. Even the latest headsets don't solve issues that were identified 30+ years ago that were solvable 30 years ago but not implemented because the solutions were not economically viable. They should be today but they have been ignored.

Whilst I agree we aren't suddenly going to 'Ready Player One', but I think there are people who are isolated, and rather than being smartphone zombies they could become Apple Vision zombies because it is easier than dealing with real life.

I think VR will probably go the way of 3D TV, because I just don't think it'll catch on terribly well. Maybe the Apple product will catch on, but I'm not convinced because VR has come and gone so many times over the years. Like you say, the implementations are not great.

Will Apple make it stick? Dunno, but it really is a lot of money to spend, and like electric cars, the price needs to significantly improve before take up will increase.

I can see scientific and engineering uses for the Vision, but as a wearable full computer, I just don't think it'll see much use after the novelty has worn off.

[alexh]

I don't believe it is supposed to "catch on". The Apple VR is not a "consumer" product but aimed strictly at "Enterprise". It's for use in medium sized businesses to aid productivity. Perhaps a necessary evil to develop a revenue stream to keep the product alive?

[rubber_jonnie]

I don't believe it is supposed to "catch on". The Apple VR is not a "consumer" product but aimed strictly at "Enterprise". It's for use in medium sized businesses to aid productivity. Perhaps a necessary evil to develop a revenue stream to keep the product alive?

Maybe not.

I agree it is aimed at the 'Enterprise' right now, and Apple do always love another income stream...

I don't see it as something to boost productivity though, I see it as a visualisation tool, I just don't see it as practical for productivity tools like email and documents etc.

Looking at and manipulating proteins, or seeing inside nuclear reactors, etc, then perhaps...

[alexh]

I don't see it as something to boost productivity though, I see it as a visualisation tool, I just don't see it as practical for productivity tools like email and documents etc.
Looking at and manipulating proteins, or seeing inside nuclear reactors, etc, then perhaps...

I think we have a mismatch over the word productivity. When I said "aid productivity" I was meaning making anything you do with computers faster. Not about "office productivity tools"

But I was specifically thinking of designing anything (in 2D and especially 3D). But anything where you require a much bigger virtual desktop.

Electronics, designing aero for cars or aeroplanes, designing car interiors, aeroplane interiors, house interior design, architectural design. Perhaps video editing, especially VR video editing. 3D model design for say CGI for movies or games. Maybe even music, a full virtual music studio mixing desk.

[rubber_jonnie]

I don't see it as something to boost productivity though, I see it as a visualisation tool, I just don't see it as practical for productivity tools like email and documents etc.
Looking at and manipulating proteins, or seeing inside nuclear reactors, etc, then perhaps...

I think we have a mismatch over the word productivity. When I said "aid productivity" I was meaning making anything you do with computers faster. Not about "office productivity tools"

Yes, I see what you mean now, we were talking about different things.

But I was specifically thinking of designing anything (in 2D and especially 3D). But anything where you require a much bigger virtual desktop.

Electronics, designing aero for cars or aeroplanes, designing car interiors, aeroplane interiors, house interior design, architectural design. Perhaps video editing, especially VR video editing. 3D model design for say CGI for movies or games. Maybe even music, a full virtual music studio mixing desk.

Yes, I can definitely see lots of uses in those areas.