Your Biggest Misconception About Virtual Reality
Most VR disbelievers I meet always seem to have the same argument over why they think VR is not going to work. They all tell me the same thing:
“Virtual reality is not going to work due to the hardware we need to put on ourselves, and hence being stuck to a computer”.
They argue over whether augmented reality is better than virtual because of its ability to display virtual layers on top of the real surface - again, without being stuck to their computers. It never cease to amaze me how many of them can’t see virtual reality beyond a hardware.
First of all, let me point out that discussions such as augmented reality vs. virtual reality are really a waste of time. Why I think so? Because, just like it happened with smartphones and Internet, one will become another or, in worst case scenario, one will be used in different purposes from another.
Let me reassure you all - this is not how we’ll all look like once we leave our house with VR:
Don't get me wrong, I really love this Quasar helmet designed by the London-based studion, Field. Not because of its abstract looks, but because of its incredible futuristic scenes they put wearers in, enabling them to interact in virtual environments with motion-tracking armbands.
E-commerce & aesthetics
Being a part of an e-commerce industry and strongly participating in its transformation, I understand the importance of creating the kind of shopping experience that will fit the immersive, yet mobile-optimized, interface with aesthetics VR wearables for the consumers. Saying that, I know online shopping will continue to be mobile, and as VR experience is coming, the headsets will have to be changed.
As you all remember, e-commerce started with the mouse and keyboard as the primary hardware for interaction. Later on, it switched to "touch" with smartphones and tablets.
Wearing Oculus
Furthermore, M. Zuckerberg recently explained his vision of people wearing (not using) Oculus. As VR is about to become the next big thing in computing platform, Zuckerberg said the hardware will change to the point when users will be able to go out in public instead of being stuck to their computers.
What I think is going to be really cool is as the form factor keeps on getting smaller and smaller, [it] stops being big goggles or headset. But instead it just looks like normal glasses or sunglasses where you can use it without being tied to a computer.
So, I think the time has finally come for everybody to open their eyes and start seeing virtual reality beyond technology. Because, as John Lasseter from Pixar Animation Studios put it:
It’s not the technology that entertains people, it’s what you do with the technology.