Will VR technology like Apple's newest device turn us into couch potatoes?

[MenInG]

Imagine travelling the world, going to work, visiting friends, visiting family - without leaving your home because VR technology could well bring all those experiences to your headset!

Is that where we are headed for? Is that good or bad?

 

[Champ_Pal]

I think it costs about $4k. Most youth will not be able to afford it.

However, these VR and augmented reality tech will definitely make kids more inactive in the next 5 years as tech gets cheaper. The younger generation in the next decade or so will stop watching sports and movies for entertainment. VR will be far more entertaining for them.
I was thinking about this recently and I feel that sports and movies will die by 2040. There will be not be any money to make for sponsors in them. It will become like how theatre and drama is now. The golden period is almost over.

 

[MenInG]

I think it costs about $4k. Most youth will not be able to afford it.

However, these VR and augmented reality tech will definitely make kids more inactive in the next 5 years as tech gets cheaper. The younger generation in the next decade or so will stop watching sports and movies for entertainment. VR will be far more entertaining for them.
I was thinking about this recently and I feel that sports and movies will die by 2040. There will be not be any money to make for sponsors in them. It will become like how theatre and drama is now. The golden period is almost over.

That's just the start.

Technology will get cheaper eventually

 

[Champ_Pal]

That's just the start.

Technology will get cheaper eventually

AI has surely arrived and it is getting harder to keep up with all these AI versions released by big tech companies. I fear most of the jobs will be taken over by machines. They are a lot cheaper and will not complain like humans. I feel we are very close to Artificial General intelligence. The technological and medical breakthroughs will be limitless. I think by 2050, humans will start to merge with machines. Every damaged human organ can be replaced.

 

[JattMaula]

Majority of people are already sedentary. This will make it even more so.

 

[RexRex]

I don't see this product taking off except as a very niche toy. At the most, it will only be as popular as Apple's iWatch.

People don't want something strapped around their eyes, it's too taxing and claustrophobic. Smartphones and laptops are going to be the two mainstay devices for a long time to come.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I think it costs about $4k. Most youth will not be able to afford it.

However, these VR and augmented reality tech will definitely make kids more inactive in the next 5 years as tech gets cheaper. The younger generation in the next decade or so will stop watching sports and movies for entertainment. VR will be far more entertaining for them.
I was thinking about this recently and I feel that sports and movies will die by 2040. There will be not be any money to make for sponsors in them. It will become like how theatre and drama is now. The golden period is almost over.

With regard to the OP, watching sports or movies is already a couch potato activity, so the tv sets will be replaced by a VR device, but otherwise the watcher will still remain on the couch. Although as [MENTION=29115]RexRex[/MENTION] has said, technology would need to move on quite considerably as not many people want a giant headset strapped around their heads for more than an hour. If we can get something more like a pair of glasses then it will become mainstream.

Also, no gimmick will replace actual physical sport. You can't replicate actually playing football or tennis by watching a screen. I'm sure VR has it's place, but that's no different to TV's or radios in the past.

 

[Mamoon]

I don't see this product taking off except as a very niche toy. At the most, it will only be as popular as Apple's iWatch.

People don't want something strapped around their eyes, it's too taxing and claustrophobic. Smartphones and laptops are going to be the two mainstay devices for a long time to come.

People say the same thing about every Apple innovation but eventually they take off big time. Apple seems to be one step ahead of the consumers and do a great job of creating a need.

This will kill smartphones and laptops in 15-20 years. The Chinese companies will do their own thing and produce cheaper alternatives for the mass consumer market.

This first version is clunky with a poor battery life and limited features but obviously it will be very different down the line. It will probably not be comfortable to wear right now but it will look like a completely different product few years down the line just like how today’s smartphones are completely different to the introductory models.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I have a lesser quality VR headset and it has made me more active

I can play cricket, tennis and boxing from the comfort of my living room and move around and break a sweat.

 

[shaz619]

I have a lesser quality VR headset and it has made me more active

I can play cricket, tennis and boxing from the comfort of my living room and move around and break a sweat.

That’s interesting which games do you play and which headset ?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

That’s interesting which games do you play and which headset ?

Meta quest.

I play IB Cricket - here is a video of some dude playing but it doesn;t really do it justice. I've used this game to practice some shots that I now can play in club cricket

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdu52e0akXc&t=52s

I also play thrill of the fight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3zm4HOUFdM&t=169s

Longish videos no need to watch them all but they give an indication of gameplay.

 

[Technics 1210]

People say the same thing about every Apple innovation but eventually they take off big time. Apple seems to be one step ahead of the consumers and do a great job of creating a need.

This will kill smartphones and laptops in 15-20 years. The Chinese companies will do their own thing and produce cheaper alternatives for the mass consumer market.

This first version is clunky with a poor battery life and limited features but obviously it will be very different down the line. It will probably not be comfortable to wear right now but it will look like a completely different product few years down the line just like how today’s smartphones are completely different to the introductory models.

What Apple innovation? List me 3.

Do not confuse innovation with renovation, the later Apple are known for.

 

[JaDed]

We were having a similar discussion in the apple thread.
I would like to point out this is AR device of apple and extremely different from VR ones available.
They are trying to replace laptop and PCs, and actually have given a great design to do so, I would urge the mods to put the video to see how different this is from VR sets.

[MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION]
Below article has the inflation adjusted PC prices , due to which I feel this is a PC/Laptop moment

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/06/18/cost-of-a-computer-the-year-you-were-born-2/

1984

Notable computer: Apple Macintosh
Price tag: $2,495
Inflation adjusted price: $6,042

The Macintosh is considered to be the first commercially successful computer to have a graphical user interface. Users could navigate by clicking through images with a mouse as opposed to the text-based commands used in earlier computers. Apple's TV ad evoked George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 and positioned Macintosh as a savior from the market dominance IBM had established by selling more than 2 million of its PCs.

 

[Technics 1210]

We were having a similar discussion in the apple thread.
I would like to point out this is AR device of apple and extremely different from VR ones available.
They are trying to replace laptop and PCs, and actually have given a great design to do so, I would urge the mods to put the video to see how different this is from VR sets.

[MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION]
Below article has the inflation adjusted PC prices , due to which I feel this is a PC/Laptop moment

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/06/18/cost-of-a-computer-the-year-you-were-born-2/

1984

Notable computer: Apple Macintosh
Price tag: $2,495
Inflation adjusted price: $6,042

The Macintosh is considered to be the first commercially successful computer to have a graphical user interface. Users could navigate by clicking through images with a mouse as opposed to the text-based commands used in earlier computers. Apple's TV ad evoked George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 and positioned Macintosh as a savior from the market dominance IBM had established by selling more than 2 million of its PCs.

And it is well known Xerox first developed the GUI/Mouse interaction (Xerox Alto) in the 70s, which both Apple and Microsoft 'borrowed' and the rest is history.

Good artists copy, great artists steal.

 

[JaDed]

And it is well known Xerox first developed the GUI/Mouse interaction (Xerox Alto) in the 70s, which both Apple and Microsoft 'borrowed' and the rest is history.

Good artists copy, great artists steal.

That is true and Microsoft copied from them eventhough they used to work for Apple back then.

I had a similar discussion with someone in silicon valley and they kind of told me how every tech is already researched before a product is launched by any company on it.. it’s all about the big picture and getting there first in the most customer centric way which makes Apple standout.

I think till today what makes German automobile and Silicon valley standout is seeing the bigger picture, ARM, Dennis Ritchie(Unix) have done most of the groundwork for Iphone to become big but how many people know both of them outside Academia?

Dennis Ritchie died same time as Steve Jobbs and look how many remember him.(legend for me though)

 

[shaz619]

We were having a similar discussion in the apple thread.
I would like to point out this is AR device of apple and extremely different from VR ones available.
They are trying to replace laptop and PCs, and actually have given a great design to do so, I would urge the mods to put the video to see how different this is from VR sets.

[MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION]
Below article has the inflation adjusted PC prices , due to which I feel this is a PC/Laptop moment

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/06/18/cost-of-a-computer-the-year-you-were-born-2/

1984

Notable computer: Apple Macintosh
Price tag: $2,495
Inflation adjusted price: $6,042

The Macintosh is considered to be the first commercially successful computer to have a graphical user interface. Users could navigate by clicking through images with a mouse as opposed to the text-based commands used in earlier computers. Apple's TV ad evoked George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 and positioned Macintosh as a savior from the market dominance IBM had established by selling more than 2 million of its PCs.

Personally, am not sure if I'd want the thing around my head, regardless of the comfort, especially if we're talking word processing activity etc among other time consuming tasks. For checking emails, browsing the internet, gaming and entertainment etc then I'd think it would be more targeted at the VR crowd but with advanced features.

The apple fans are very loyal and among that particular market, I feel it is likely to be a hit. Will be interesting to see if there is adoption by other competitors.

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

It looks like this invention as well as Streaming services, like Netflix, Apple TV, NEON, will reduce the need or even make TVs extinct

 

[Hitman]

I'm really in awe of this device. Unfortunately, the price is the biggest deal breaker. Anyways, I'd wait for a few more years for the technology to further improve. It definitely will.

 

[JaDed]

It looks like this invention as well as Streaming services, like Netflix, Apple TV, NEON, will reduce the need or even make TVs extinct

It won’t as TV is still a great family device, but laptops and PC market will definitely be hit if it lives upto the processing power.

 

[Hitman]

It won’t as TV is still a great family device, but laptops and PC market will definitely be hit if it lives upto the processing power.

The price needs to reduce gradually every year. At $3500, it's just beyond reach for a lot of people. Even people like me who can afford it (not boasting) won't be willing to shell that type of money for it.

 

[JaDed]

The price needs to reduce gradually every year. At $3500, it's just beyond reach for a lot of people. Even people like me who can afford it (not boasting) won't be willing to shell that type of money for it.

I posted above the prices of PCs according to inflation in 1980s-1990s.. this is cheaper but we didn’t have much tech back then so let’s see.

 

[Hitman]

I posted above the prices of PCs according to inflation in 1980s-1990s.. this is cheaper but we didn’t have much tech back then so let’s see.

The very concept itself is so amazing.

 

[Big Mac]

Too late Steve Jobby I'm already a couch potato

I also play thrill of the fight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3zm4HOUFdM&t=169s

Longish videos no need to watch them all but they give an indication of gameplay.

Thrill of the Fight is a fantastic game and a great workout, I second the recommendation