+1 To add to the experience of connecting to people, I can also imagine our family members taking a photograph together while in VR of the family living room – a memento we can take away. That would work if our VR avatars are realistic representations of ourselves, which I think Meta can do (?)
This sounds like an absolute nightmare. Technology disconnected us over decades, then gave us "solutions" to stay in touch 24/7, people are lonelier than ever but we keep pushing for more of this shit. You can already call and video call your family, basically for free, what does VR bring to the table ?
"Hey John, grandpa will expire soon can you quickly jump in your headset and upload yourself to his VR cabin in the wood, the one we rent from MetaSpital for $99 a day, to take a selfie with him before he dies alone in a cold hospital room"
It's just another way to record a time and place. No more different to a video than a video is to a photo. Just slightly more fidelity.
It's a good thing. It's a nice thing. Chill.
I get that there's reasons to be angry at big tech but this isn't one of them. Accurate and easy 3d scanning, high fidelity rendering and a way to view in 6dof stereoscopic is just a great use case entirely separate from the machinations of our evil overlords.
> And how does a 3d rendered world that doesn't exist anywhere other than in a computer has more fidelity than real life ?
It's not always posible to meet up with people in real life. A lot of my friends moved overseas and I have neither the time nor inclination to be flying to sweden/the USA constantly.
> That's your opinion, the fact that VR tanked hard seems to indicate most people don't agree
This in no way changes the reality of their situation, in fact frankly, its irrelevant. Something being "nice" or "good" does not require it also have mass market appeal.
>> I have neither the time nor inclination to be flying
Everybody struggles with that trade-off; it would be nice if the pro virtual connected crowd acknowledged that a big part of the value of these relationships is that they aren't easy or casual. The infrequency and cost/effort involved is part of what inherently makes them special. I seem to be in the minority that would trade 100 cursory relationships for 1 deeply meaningful relationship.
> The infrequency and cost/effort involved is part of what inherently makes them special
That may be true for you, but it’s not universal. Only being able to see some of my cloest friends every few years beyond a phone call or text doesn’t make the relationship any more “special”, it just makes it feel distant.
VR doesn’t replace the real thing, but it does let me maintain closeness with people who aren’t geographically close anymore. I still fly out and see them, but between those moments, shared time in VR keeps the connection alive and meaningful.
> I seem to be in the minority that would trade 100 cursory relationships for 1 deeply meaningful relationship.
You’re not in the minority for wanting depth, but may be in a minority for assuming that depth can only come through scarcity and physical presence. Meaningful relationships are built on shared experience, and VR has given my friend group new ways to have those together despite no longer in fact, being together.
Once a month, I hang out in VR with friends scattered across the world. We drink, laugh, gesture, watch movies and even move. We attended a virtual dance party a while back and it was a fantastic time. It’s presence, not proximity, that matters for us in the end and we have found VR quite useful for that.
Pedantic: "nice" or "good" does actually imply there's mass market agreement because otherwise what is the effective definition of the word "nice" or "good"?
If this continues the trend of technology discouraging in-person, physical connectedness then it's not an all-good, all-nice thing. It could actually be a very dangerous, very bad thing.
If you get used to living in your little pod generating heat to act as a small power supply while living a fulfilled live in your little VR world, then it is a good thing...for the machines. Could I interest you in this little blue pill? You seem to be resisting your programming.
That's an extreme take, venting off some inner fears and frustrations?
There are many use cases where this can add value. People these days live far from their families, what's wrong with connecting in a better/different way if desired?
Not everybody wants or can stay with their families for whole life and that's fine, something about personal freedom and right to self-determination, desire for massive personal growth that exposure to different cultures invariably brings in, adventures and so on.
I used to think this. But as I’ve aged and grown wiser, I think perhaps everyone should consider the large negative impacts of moving so far away from family. Technology can’t solve all the problems.
If it's dangerous to stay in home country or there are almost no work opportunities, a lot of people choose to leave. Surely they'd appreciate seeing family and friends through a more rich medium than flat video. I'd certainly do.
My parents immigrated from India to the US for those reasons. I understand what you're talking about and agree. That's not the type of reason I meant to allude to.
> something about personal freedom and right to self-determination
This has to be satire, god emperor Zuck and his megacorp Meta fighting for our personal freedoms and right to self-determination. You're already living in an alternate universe apparently
This doesn't make sense. It's the baby out with the bath water.
Yes! actually cars did have a plausibly negative effect on connection. in the before times you couldn't travel far so you didn't. and you saw your family ever day of your life. It's not all it's cracked up to be sure, but we're talking logistics.
Now with cars you can go wherever! And people move continents away and are told to make the family trip once a year at thanksgiving to do the family thing. Can you believe that with more optionality comes paradoxically fewer "chosen" options. See Netflix.
I agree with the general sentiment. I also think we forgot how to enjoy quality time together and these “solutions” will make matters worse. But in some scenarios, like what I described, which is just spending time together, it can help
