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Yeah the headsets are a distraction, the way to think about this is there are three distinct tech tracks: - full photonic override (HMDs -> passthrough visors
by gfodor 5y ago
Yeah the headsets are a distraction, the way to think about this is there are three distinct tech tracks:
- full photonic override (HMDs -> passthrough visors (lynx-r is a half step) -> passthrough swim goggles -> contact lenses)
- partial photonic override (HoloLens -> AR glasses -> contact lenses)
- magic windows (google’s thing)
They all have trade offs but the first track in particular it is an error to look at current form factors as a fixed condition. They will be changing rapidly insofar as traction and/or investment continues.
- ghaff 5y agoCertainly. Though I'd be inclined to argue that full VR/immersion is mostly of interest in an exploration context (e.g. 3D construction walk through, virtual tourism) or simulation (including gaming)--especially for situations where you can participate from a fixed location.
- gfodor 5y agoI think if another tech hits face to face social presence scores then yes things get a lot more interesting. I don’t know if google has run a study.
- buu700 5y agoRather than contact lenses, how plausible would it be to project an image into someone's eyes from a distance? As in you'd have an external VR unit that's as bulky as needed to handle face tracking, photonic override, etc. without any direct physical contact or uncomfortable accessories. Does that kind of tech sound further or closer than contact lenses, or would it be so different as to be hard to say?
- gfodor 5y agoYeah I would put that into the same bucket as contact lenses: really hard to imagine tech in terms of execution, but probably possible from first principles. The invariant is basically if code is determining what photons you see, and if it has full governance or partial governance (ie, the real world has the ability to leak in or not.)
- ghaff 5y agoThere was some pro type contact lens technology in a talk at Hot Chips but nowhere near prime time yet. Saw a thread. Forget if it was here or Twitter.