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This is the worst use case/execution for VR that I have ever heard of. VR is actually terrific for exercise, but the whole point is that you don't need to actu

by ilaksh 3y ago

This is the worst use case/execution for VR that I have ever heard of. VR is actually terrific for exercise, but the whole point is that you don't need to actually leave your house. You don't need to worry about a bunch of equipment or touching the same things as strangers. I am really looking forward to the Quest 3 coming out in September. Hopefully it is a step up from Quest 2. But with Quest 2, there are a ton of great options for exercise. And I think many of them are much more engaging than a gym workout or a normal jog. I really like Eleven Table Tennis VR. There is also a baseball training thing called WIN Reality (although you need to order an attachment and have a bat to get the most out of it). There are a lot more sports/movement VR games. Boxing, tennis, climbing, Beat Saber, golf, football, bowling, kayaking, paintball, basketball (Gym Class). And tons of fitness apps (although those are less fun in my opinion).

jimmySixDOF 3y ago
I get you but there is something about Location based roomscale that you cant replicate at home. And it's not just large m^2 of tracked space -- in this case it's tangible user interface at scale. Like a wall climbing experience where you are solo freescaling El Capitan from all you can tell. There are the tradeoffs but I like the possibility space it opens up to have highly controlled physical objects interacting with you in an otherwise virtual experience. Besides letting go of a 200lbs deadlift does kind of provide its own haptics ;}
- ilaksh 3y ago
  Freescaling El Capitan in VR with a real wall would actually be amazing. Ideally for me with a foam pit underneath.
  - Turskarama 3y ago
    Having done both rock climbing and worn a vr headset, I feel like the reality here is you'd bang the headset against the wall constantly.
    - pcthrowaway 3y ago
      Integrate it into a helmet for extra realism. I already bang my helmet into the rock constantly while climbing. Also, realistically I think you'd need to be on top rope / autobelay for this to be safe, so it would be kind of like following the whole route edit: but also, just go outside people! I guess VR climbing can be safer than outdoors (less risk of rockfall), and it opens it up to some portion of the 'outdoor climbing experience' in all seasons, and potentially with less commute... but I don't know that I'd prefer it to just going to a climbing gym. It's not like they can capture the smells of outdoors or the breeze carrying distant sounds or the heat of the sun reflecting off the rock and beating down on you. Indoor gyms can't even get the feel of rock right.
seanmcdirmid 3y ago
I sort of agree, but could be tempted to join a VR gym with haptic experiences I couldn’t get at home. Eg, a boxing experience that somehow includes a real bag, or rowing, or…whatever. I think there is a lot of room to be creative, if gym equipment can make VR exercise more effective and/or interesting, I would definitely do it.
- giraffe_lady 3y ago
  But like... if you're joining a VR gym with a real bag you're giving up the main advantage of VR for exercise. A normal gym has a bag and a rowing machine? You're leaving your house anyway now. I still don't see it.
  - seanmcdirmid 3y ago
    It is giving up one advantage for another. If the rowing machine was connected to the VR system, it would be a different experience. Basically, what I want are physical gaming experiences that go beyond shadow boxing or shadow slicing with some vibration feedback. The market for fitness is big enough, we can have both!
tmikaeld 3y ago
I lost 10kg of weight from playing synth riders alone during covid, but I've gotten no where near the figure i had after 3 years in the gym. If i where to choose between going to the gym and VR, there's no chance I'd choose VR, it's just too limited. I'd need to have glasses similar to regular glasses with XR passthrough to get close.
- ddorian43 3y ago
  For weight do diet. Gym is for muscle mass and cardiovascular health. Just do a low-carb diet in the vr.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]

by ilaksh 3y ago

jimmySixDOF 3y ago

I get you but there is something about Location based roomscale that you cant replicate at home. And it's not just large m^2 of tracked space -- in this case it's tangible user interface at scale. Like a wall climbing experience where you are solo freescaling El Capitan from all you can tell. There are the tradeoffs but I like the possibility space it opens up to have highly controlled physical objects interacting with you in an otherwise virtual experience. Besides letting go of a 200lbs deadlift does kind of provide its own haptics ;}

ilaksh 3y ago
Freescaling El Capitan in VR with a real wall would actually be amazing. Ideally for me with a foam pit underneath.
- Turskarama 3y ago
  Having done both rock climbing and worn a vr headset, I feel like the reality here is you'd bang the headset against the wall constantly.
  - pcthrowaway 3y ago
    Integrate it into a helmet for extra realism. I already bang my helmet into the rock constantly while climbing. Also, realistically I think you'd need to be on top rope / autobelay for this to be safe, so it would be kind of like following the whole route edit: but also, just go outside people! I guess VR climbing can be safer than outdoors (less risk of rockfall), and it opens it up to some portion of the 'outdoor climbing experience' in all seasons, and potentially with less commute... but I don't know that I'd prefer it to just going to a climbing gym. It's not like they can capture the smells of outdoors or the breeze carrying distant sounds or the heat of the sun reflecting off the rock and beating down on you. Indoor gyms can't even get the feel of rock right.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago

I sort of agree, but could be tempted to join a VR gym with haptic experiences I couldn’t get at home. Eg, a boxing experience that somehow includes a real bag, or rowing, or…whatever. I think there is a lot of room to be creative, if gym equipment can make VR exercise more effective and/or interesting, I would definitely do it.

giraffe_lady 3y ago
But like... if you're joining a VR gym with a real bag you're giving up the main advantage of VR for exercise. A normal gym has a bag and a rowing machine? You're leaving your house anyway now. I still don't see it.
- seanmcdirmid 3y ago
  It is giving up one advantage for another. If the rowing machine was connected to the VR system, it would be a different experience. Basically, what I want are physical gaming experiences that go beyond shadow boxing or shadow slicing with some vibration feedback. The market for fitness is big enough, we can have both!

tmikaeld 3y ago

I lost 10kg of weight from playing synth riders alone during covid, but I've gotten no where near the figure i had after 3 years in the gym. If i where to choose between going to the gym and VR, there's no chance I'd choose VR, it's just too limited. I'd need to have glasses similar to regular glasses with XR passthrough to get close.

ddorian43 3y ago
For weight do diet. Gym is for muscle mass and cardiovascular health. Just do a low-carb diet in the vr.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]