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General discussion

Virtual reality: Future lifestyle or fad?

Jun 2, 2015 5:27PM PDT

Post was last edited on June 2, 2015 5:34 PM PDT

Discussion is locked

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Other
Jun 2, 2015 6:56PM PDT

I worked in many fields and one area that this technology has a real application is in very hazardous or potential hazardous locations or activities.

One of the employers was with a DOE facility that is storing Nuclear Waster 2000ft underground. Now with waste in place, it is not in the best interest of everyone to have continuing tours of that underground facility. But a virtual reality version of a tour that is kept up to date would be of interest.

Recently there was an event in this facility. Having this type of information that was to depict the event and what happed for the public to understand the issues and the treat or lack of a treat to the public could be priceless.

Fire Fighting, Emergency Response to hazardous incidents are just a couple of others.

An other case might be the actual process used in legal fracking of wells. This might show the facts verse the myths that are out there.

So I believe that it has a place. I think that some will take it as a novelty to escape reality with the virtual being the only outcome.

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VR and telepresence, a truly useful future.
Jun 2, 2015 7:13PM PDT

The use of VR for the operator of a distant device is where I see the most exciting future for this technology. As internet speeds improve and latency decreases, I see telepresence as the big winner. Not only in the obvious fields of medicine and military applications but even on a social level. For instance, I imagine when a son could visit his elderly mother living further away than an easy physical visit and still be able to do physical tasks such as mowing the lawns using a connected semi-robotic device. Not quite like in Avatar but at the entry level of that concept. I'm sure we already have the know-how to achieve something like that.

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Possible
Jun 2, 2015 10:34PM PDT

Only draw back to this idea would be that everyone involved wiould have to access to the same equipment and technology to share ideas like you listed.

Take the world today, how many people have the same equipment and programs? I understand your point but the practical use may be harder.

Also, the U.S. is not getting much faster internet access. We lag far behind other countries around the world and it doesn't seem like it will change anytime soon. The more the government gets involved, the less corporations will invest. They fear that they will be either regulated to the point of uselessness or they will be taken over by the government and all of the investment will be gone.

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the Key to Success
Jun 2, 2015 7:48PM PDT

what V.R. has in it's favor,
is that I.R.L.
S.U.X.
(the Current state of Technology is only a Temporary Hindrance)...

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concerts and travel adventures
Jun 2, 2015 9:09PM PDT

Virtual Reality is for those who have personal visualization or fantasy of their own when reading a really good book, but a bit beyond that too. I think it's here to stay, because it's an extension of reading adventure or science fiction books and watching TV.

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Concerts
Jun 2, 2015 10:37PM PDT

I can see the idea but you will find that many who promote and run concerts will only provide this if they can charge additional fees for access. This could also become an infringement issue with some performances.

I like the post but feel that too many obstacles will be place for it to be practical.

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Some applications, not sure how widespread
Jun 2, 2015 9:30PM PDT

About 20 years ago I used a software application to design a 400 sq ft addition to our house. The software allowed me to place a "camera" anywhere within the addition so I could view what the finished product would look like from that angle. We actually determined where to reposition windows using this software. This would be a perfect application for VR, allowing one to walk through a house before it was physical.

I could see military applications as well. Certainly video games already make use of VR.

I'm just not sure VR will find itself into the living room as a TV replacement.

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TV Replacement
Jun 3, 2015 7:12AM PDT

Phones and tablets have already replaced TVs for many people. The ability for everyone to watch what they want is considered great by some. Being able to immerse oneself more into a movie or game using VR will definitely be popular in today's individualistic society. Other uses for VR are phone calls and education. Imagine walking the beach with someone as you talk, or attending class and 'being in' the classroom.

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One Worry
Jun 3, 2015 10:07PM PDT

You are write but I have noticed a disconnect with some of those who immerse themselves into the technology that they lose their ability to interact in real life to a degree.

I can see some using it as a way to get away from reality but this could just take the place of one drug to another even thought this one is taken into the body by sight.

Once again, I feel the intrusion of some might get rejected by others and this will lead to more divide within our already fragile country and world.

Also think about the recruiting by ISIS and others on others who are easily lead to an extreme way of live. This could provide another method of causing the world even more problems.

But with advance we also have the problems that could arise.

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Life Replacement
Jun 4, 2015 5:32AM PDT

I totally agree. What we have currently is bad enough as it is limiting or curtailing interaction with other people. As VR technology increases, immersion in VR will increase. More time and money will be spent by some to separate from reality. Video game addiction will increase as the seeming reality increases. We can't blame this on the technology or the game makers, though. We have to take responsibility for our children and provide other outlets of escape such as reading and exercising. We also need to ensure that we and our children are socializing with people IRL.

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Hmmmm?
Jun 4, 2015 6:31AM PDT

The very first time I saw Star Wars was on a Cinematic screen with surround sound. This could bring that experience to the living room.

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the Future IS Virtual Reality
Jun 2, 2015 9:50PM PDT

some of the comments are excellent points on how this would work best.
the next step would be the sci fi version where you are immersed within
it and be able to walk around in it. like a holo room. it could be used in schools at all levels and great entertainment. would deff put tv out of business !

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Fad
Jun 3, 2015 1:36AM PDT

Virtual reality is probably going to be one of those fads for a while.

I've tried VR in some places and it's pretty poor. Many years ago Alton Towers used to have a VR headset game where you put these glasses on and sit on a motion chair and off you go as a knight fighting people with a sword in your hand. The game wasn't included in the AT ticket price so you had to pay extra to play - I think it was about £5 extra or something. I thought lets do this. I paid my money, put the headset on and tried to play.

It was awful, the headsets over time had been scratched, the screens were all dirty, and barely even focusing on the eyes. I could only just about see the screen as the screens were totally out of alignment with where they were meant to be.

I was really disappointed, tried playing the game but couldn't 'cos most of the time couldn't even see where I was supposed to be going.

The VR set also was big and awkward to wear, you only got to wear it for about 2 minutes, but after the 2 minutes I was glad to have it off.

I've also been on a motion master ride when it used to be at Granada Studios Tour in Manchester. That was a much better VR experience as with that one you were watching a big cinema screen, so you didn't have to try and view through tiny screens. Although as you weren't fully immersed in the screen I guess that doesn't really count as VR.

I have also tried the 3D TV's - one of my friends bought an LG when they first came out and we played a few games on that in 3D. After a while I just found it more annoying that actually immersive, and the 3D effect seemed to start to wear off. I seem to notice that with a lot of technology. When you first set the technology up it's like an amazing experience, but after a while you start to not notice it as much. I have Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound both on the TV downstairs and my PC upstairs (I bought 2 Kenwood AV receivers at a local pawn shop for just £100 each and had a number of speakers kicking around doing nothing). When I first set up Dolby Digital 5.1 and watched the first few films in it I was quite amazed at the difference, but now it seems totally normal and I don't really notice 5.1 as much, and actually now when I go round to friends who just have the standard stereo speaker TV's I notice the stereo effect more than the 5.1.

You can get to a stage that it becomes too natural and you stop noticing the effect, so if VR was introduced to everything you'd soon get to a stage that you'd stop noticing it.

For me though the most immersive experience I have ever had which wasn't VR but it felt pretty close was watching Batman - The Dark Knight (Blu-Ray) on my Optoma Pico PK302 projector, going straight onto a 6ft blackout window blind with the lights down with the full 5.1 Dolby Digital system activated, and the lights down. I had previously seen that film when it was in the IMAX, but even though my 6ft screen is nowhere near as big as an 89ft IMAX screen, because I was much closer to the screen and in a much more confined area the combination of the 5.1 and the large screen size made it feel much more intense than the IMAX experience. I still remember the bit where the camera pans over the top of Gotham city, and I don't do heights, even though it wasn't real and it was only on a screen it certainly felt scarily real.

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Anouther other
Jun 3, 2015 6:17AM PDT

Not really interested in any of it. Almost feels like we are approaching a Solarian culture.

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VR
Jun 3, 2015 8:28AM PDT

Hilarious. Google went from a $1500 I-Glasses to a $30 Cardboard box glasses in less than 3 years. I noticed a few comments referring to what applications (YES, I spelled the whole word -I hate saying "apps"), this VR might be useful. Isn't it true that in order to walk anywhere in the world or underground, or swimming in the oceans can only be done once a video of ....let's call it "Video of Everything" is ready -akin of Google maps, which had cars filming and taking pictures of every single street in the world. Somebody said it would be nice to walk through a fire to asses the damages and if you can save someone. Well, first there has to be a video of said location before you can log on and walk through that fire, I guess. Enlighten me.

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Pleseantly Optimistic
Jun 3, 2015 8:55AM PDT

At this point I think its a fad for a very future forward crowd and the only reason it isn't more popular is because of its limited use. I don't see a real "consumer need" for it at this point. Now before you guys rip me a new one... There are many possible uses for these devices in the future. The four mentioned in the Poll and I believe we will see break through's in teaching, construction, gaming, and lifestyle tech using this technology in the future. However, as a gadget freak, I have a different perspective and I'm more open to the possibilities than the average end user. They need incentive in order to get behind technology like this. Where I see the endless possibilities they see us wearing "over-sized goggles on our face looking like an idiot" (No kidding, that is what my wife said to me at Bestbuy when I was using a demo version of the Samsung Gear VR). In my opinion, this industry needs to figure out a specific "Consumer Need" in order to appeal to the broader audience as a whole. The end user perspective is more geared to what it can do for them right now than what it can do for them in the future.
At this point marketing demo versions and innovator editions are cool to the techie but we need programs and games with some shock and awe.
Thanks for reading...

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VR -Future lifestyle
Jun 4, 2015 6:36AM PDT

Museums...always such a walk around.
Of Course Landmarks.

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It will huge benefit, but can never replace reality.
Jun 4, 2015 7:13AM PDT

It will be IMMENSELY useful for people planning trips and at most for people to get a glimpse of places most people otherwise could not visit themselves. Children will most benefit from learning about the world better than any textbook.

In *absolutely* no way, even 20 years from now, replace actually being there in person!

Of course the one feature it will replace is recreating lost places virtually.