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Comment by Zee2 | Hacker News Reader

As someone working in the space (not Meta):

The overall goal is the exact opposite of what you're saying here. Just about every single person I've ever talked to in this industry wants to build devices to bring human beings together across space + time. Allowing folks to see each other eye to eye and form real human connections where otherwise it would be impossible. XR is probably the least isolating technology in history if you consider what it can do in terms of breaking down boundaries of time, distance, ability, and appearance. It is the most humanistic of any technology I've ever used in my life, in the way that it's explicitly designed to bridge human, emotional connections where none could exist before. Just one of many perspectives...

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> Just about every single person I've ever talked to in this industry wants to build devices to bring human beings together across space + time.

This is admirable, but unless they also have some ideas about how to keep such a service running the funding model is going to default to advertising. And advertising has a corrosive impact on free-expression (can't allow anything untoward to happen next to an ad) and community (is this person being genuine or are they selling something?).

With internet revenue models being what they are, I don't see VR social experiences going in a good direction at the moment. Maybe if we had a good p2p technology for hosting/joining VR worlds so these things could be community-run there would be hope. But every popular VR application I know of is hopelessly centralized and subject to the same market forces that made social media such a mess.

If recent history is taken into account, the goal of anything in this space is, or will ultimately turn out to be, engagement. “Social” platforms today are unhealthy places as is. Do you really think another layer of abstraction away from a common reality will turn out to “bridge human, emotional connections where none could before”? I’m curious: what exactly are you referring to?

I do see potential applications in fields like 3D-enhanced medical imaging, as highly specialized tools for professionals. But not as a general tool or device.

Long-term, I find it more likely that people who can escape into a convincing, curated reality, will do so with increasing frequency and in turn stop caring about their surroundings. Because we’re human primates and not responsible enough to deal with complex change like this yet.

Not sure if any technology can make something real or less isolating. You can mimic with with audio, video conferencing and now XR but it's till fake bits which can be manipulated by you know who or make you pay or watch ads which is what it will be. Should have named it Adverse.

When I see the facial rigs in VR chat, I see incessant youtube face.

Yeah, and Facebook was always about connecting ppl.

You are working Ina capitalistic system, the only motive for your company is profit for shareholders. When you are small and inconsequential, other motives might rule. But the trajectory is clear. If you succeed, your company turn into a paper clip machine for which humans are just meat for the grinder. This is how it always plays out.

As opposed to what? A communist system where it's run by spotless, selfless bureaucrats? Do you have an alternative to our capitalistic system that results in lower corruption?

I’m so

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