Is virtual reality actually just a hot, tangled nightmare?

Let's face it, the real world is garbage. You hate your job, you can't afford a house, and every day is just one step closer to the eventual [UNKNOWN] death of the universe. So is it any wonder you want to escape this dimension and live in virtual reality? But wait a minute, is virtual reality just a massive waste of time? [SOUND] VR always promises to [INAUDIBLE]. Escaping the [INAUDIBLE] space, tapping into the cyber sphere, something to do with sex robots. But, the reality is a long way from what we were promised in Hollywood. VR hasn't taught me kung fu. I don't get to ride around the main frame on a glowing light cycle, and I really don't know what Lawnmower Man was about, and if that's VR I'm just really confused. VR offers a world of infinite possibility, just like Read Player One. Sure, infinite is just another way of saying 80s tech-bro wish fulfillment and cut-price Spielberg IP. But still, what a world. But VR is not the oasis, it's not the matrix. And it's not even, seriously, can someone tell me what the [BLEEP] Lawnmower Man is about? VR's like wearing the world's most uncomfortable welding goggles, draping yourself in cables until you look like robot Cthulhu and saying, actually, this is the future. You wanna escape to another reality? Great, but next minute you're off dancing with 3D holovibes while we're watching this sweaty meatbag of a body fly around the living room Give me augmented reality any day. Fill my house with 3D furniture, talking poo and all the Pokemon I can catch. Just don't promise me an oasis if it's only Palmer Lucky on a beach. I'm Clair Riley for CNET and I will pay actual money for someone who can explain Lawnmower Man to me. [MUSIC]