This email had me somewhat upset until I remembered that Meta is floundering and failing badly. It seems self-evident to Zuckerberg that broadly-adopted AR/VR would be an automatic positive for humanity. I can't imagine a world in which AR/VR is a positive. I don't see any reason for VR/AR to be seen a positive development.
During the pandemic, VRChat let me reconnect with friends that I hadn't seen in person for 1-2 years. Combined with body tracking modules (so you can walk around fluidly), the experience can be extremely immersive, like you're in the same room with someone.
When I upgraded to a Valve Index and gave my older headset to my roommate, he later mentioned that VRChat and the social experiences he had on there saved him from a deep depression brought on by isolation during the pandemic.
I'd consider that an extremely positive experience.
And more broadly, the majority of the world population uses some kind of internet communication and many of them would probably use a higher-fidelity version if it became available. To give an example from a more mature technology, the share of internet communication happening over video increases each year (this trend predates the pandemic).
Personally, I’ve found that VR takes away a lot of the awkward downsides of Zoom socializing. I’m pretty optimistic it’ll be popular when it matures.
AR on the other hand, could become more ubiquitous in that sense, if it can be worn casually and be looking "cool" enough to not warrant weird/dorky looks. But time will tell, I guess.
even without the issues around biometric data and privacy, sitting inside with lights strapped to your eyeballs is not healthier than doing something with people in real life.
there will be specific applications where VR makes new things possible and better, but as a household entertainment device i think it'll be terrible.
Unfortunately, teens would be the most vulnerable to adopting this though. But I can't imagine this being anything but another "temporarily popular" thing that will get boring quickly.
i talk with friends in other states daily on discord and it doesnt hold a candle to how much more fun we have when we get together.
i see value in brief moments for VR experience but beyond those it just seems half asses and tacky
- Treat photosensitive epilepsy by filtering incoming visual stimuli
- Improve vision for cases not treatable with typical lenses
- Use eye-tracking to assist with communication for people with various disabilities
- Teleoperate robots in dangerous conditions
- Perform live translation with AR subtitles
- Learn everything there is to know about anything you look at - plants, animals, places, things
- Block ads/brands in real life
- Enhance learning of instrument/sport/activity
- Record and re-experience major life events in 3d space
- Communicate with true telepresence
With that said, even the iPad was sort of a goofy device that everyone dismissed initially (iirc). It's hard to imagine the same thing with AR/VR communication though, given the currently known tech limitations and just the sheer dorkiness and/or cumbersomeness of wearing an external device that doesn't look like regular glasses (which are also already perceived as dorky).
In addition, for VR there's always this question of "where do we use it?" I stopped using mine because (despite having a sufficiently large space) I kept hitting my furniture or barely missing the TV. I don't think this problem is solvable with technology, and not many people can afford large enough spaces to address this. AR is a different story though.
I think they should follow the approach of beachhead markets if they want to prove it could be useful. If it can't be widely adopted even by a niche audience atm, then there's little hope for mass adoption/usefulness. Microsoft is a good example of that - they are/were trying to position the AR headset as a workplace device first and foremost, and even that seems yet to be widely adopted within its market. But figuring out the right initial market takes time.
If we’re looking at the big picture, mature VR/AR will help suppress social unrest. It will help with other issues like the scarcity of physical space.
For a positive example, I’d like to meet or chat with coworkers and management full-VR/AR when they are in the other office or city. Because text is still a pretty low-bandwidth medium for many people and/or topics.
Anticiating the next question, yes, I find in-person bandwidth (usually, as in popular software) superior to webcam.
^ This could be done in non-VR apps too, but convincing IMs to make UI for that is even less real than creating VR glasses.
- It could provide first responders with live HUDs analyzing the environment
- The hard-of-hearing could use it to literally provide subtitles for real life. Live translations in general can break down language barriers.
- It can provide useful context about objects around you, or even magnify them in real life.