12 ms·

Apple Plans Smaller, Lighter Vision Headset; Meta Works on Cheaper Quest 3

33 points by elsewhen 3y ago

TheCaptain4815 3y ago
Palmer Lucky had an interesting point about these headsets in their current state, that even if we gave them out for FREE, people still wouldn't really use them. He's got a point that there isn't that "killer app" for VR.
- d3w4s9 3y ago
  I have been using my quest 2 to play beat saber, table tennis, minigolf and other games for a while. Great workouts, and worth every penny I paid for the headset.
- code_runner 3y ago
  I firmly believe this will suffer the same fate as 3d tv. Even sports couldn’t save the 3d tv. I think the most that people would ever consider would be a HUD with some walking directions or something. I could be wrong and it ends up being the biggest thing since the PC, but I just don’t understand even the most optimistic takes outside of cool gaming experiences.
  - lm28469 3y ago
    VR/AR is being hyped on and off for 30 years, until it gets contact lens sized it's useless for most people
    - goodoldneon 3y ago
      It doesn't need to be contact lens sized. There's a sizeable market for AR glasses, as long as their form factor is indistinguishable from regular glasses
      - ghaff 3y ago
        Fashionable glasses would be just fine. It’s still in science fiction territory compared to the current state of the art.
  - tmikaeld 3y ago
    It's interesting that you touch on the 3D TV, because real (180 degree, 3D, 3600P) 3D video in VR is really stunning compared to flat-screen. This is where i think Apple can get a real foot into the door eventually, because the experience would be such a large leap from flatscreen.
    - throwaway2203 3y ago
      Content would be incredibly hard to produce for it though.
      - ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
        I suspect most video game developers would suggest otherwise. The engines are really good. In fact, I think that a couple of movies have been made, using Unreal. Those are coming together with AR. That said, advertisers could easily kill this, and there's so much money in ads, that I don't know if there's any way to prevent that.
        jayd16 3y ago
        Uhm, no. It's incredibly expensive to make high quality content suitable for 3D viewing. Compared to shooting some video it's way more expensive.
        ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
        Not sure why that is a "no." Many modern video games are completely VR-immersive, and with impressive quality, if you have the kit. Yeah, it's expensive, but pro anything is expensive. I have friends that have made movies, and have given me some insight into the process. It's not really something that I think I'd enjoy. What will kill it, will be cheap-ass ads, splattered around a high-quality scene.
        smoldesu 3y ago
        > What will kill it, will be cheap-ass ads, splattered around a high-quality scene. I'll take "Things that never stopped the Internet from succeeding" for $400, Alex.
  - makeitdouble 3y ago
    On one side, a cool gaming experience would already be enough of a market. Looking at the Switch for instance, it's not something to sneeze at. Now I don't think there will a "killer" app, but probably many niches, with one or more resonating with each of us. The same way current TV business isn't surviving on a single use case, but a constellation of cases where people want a big screen in their living room.
  - verdverm 3y ago
    Virtual monitors / desktop
- joshstrange 3y ago
  The Quest 2? Yes, I know that from personal experience and I had a friend return his Pro. I'm very interested for the Vision Pro though since it's higher resolution might actually allow me to do real work in it. Currently I maintain 2 offices with my full monitor/dock/camera/etc setup which is a pain and wasn't cheap to setup. Being able to move around (to different offices/locations) with a Vision Pro and have virtual displays would be amazing. Obviously we won't know until we get our hands on it but I have high hopes. Which, if not satisfied, I'll return it.
  - jayd16 3y ago
    You could try the Quest 3 that comes out this week. Passthrough is much better and while the resolution does not mean a virtual 4k monitor, it's enough to work in. Might want to experiment with that and virtual desktop in passthrough mode.
  - anonymoose33282 3y ago
    I agree that that's probably the most "mass adoption" use case for these things, rather than just gaming or content consumption. I would love to be able to have essentially a pair of "triple monitor setup goggles" that I can throw into a backpack, but right now the cost and battery life isn't there quite yet. But I have hope!
    - mlajtos 3y ago
      Q3 + MacBook might be okay for this. With occasional access to power outlet of course.
- strulovich 3y ago
  The killer app might be replacing your desktop. It’s just not good enough at it (same way early smartphones could browse the web, but were not good at it) In a way, looks like Apple is gambling on that direction.
  - unsupp0rted 3y ago
    Early smartphones weren't good enough at browsing the web, and also the web wasn't good enough at being browsable on early smart phones. I wonder if we need a design revolution before headsets become "killer app" useful. I suspect we don't. Just get the resolution and refresh rate high enough, and it's already a revolution.
    - mlajtos 3y ago
      It wasn't about phones being good for browsing the web. It was (and still is) about having the web in your pocket wherever you are.
      - deleted 3y ago
        [deleted]
    - danpalmer 3y ago
      > Just get the resolution and refresh rate high enough, and it's already a revolution. Isn't that a solution looking for a problem still? With smartphones the problem wasn't surfing the web – you're right that mobile devices and the mobile web grew up together. The problem was needing information when not at a desktop computer, or wanting more information quicker than you'd get through a phone call, or just wanting human interaction (even if it was online). The killer apps for mobile were things like finding your way around (maps, transport times, traffic), social networking (without logging on to a desktop chat room or actually meeting someone), and photos (without carrying around another device). So far the only "killer app" for VR/AR – something we literally could not do before VR/AR, is immersive gaming. I know non-VR games can be immersive in their own way but VR is clearly a step up. The problem I believe is accessibility – we don't have the physical space, or cheap and good enough devices, or enough content that people find what they like, and that's just one somewhat niche use-case (gaming isn't niche, but gaming aiming for immersiveness is).
- seydor 3y ago
  > really use them What does 'really use them' mean? I use the Q2 almost daily to take a break just to view some street view images. It's a short-time passive entertainment device for me, and certainly worth the money for it. Most people own a few devices for casual use like that, like a tablet. It doesnt need to be like a smartphone
- pjmlp 3y ago
  The first time I saw VR headsets being used was at Portuguese version of CES in 1994, it was being demoed with Doom. To this day, it looks like a solution looking for a problem. AR makes sense as HUD for specialized jobs, for everything else give us Holodeck.
  - lttlrck 3y ago
    "solution looking for a problem" Which is perhaps why it really only has a (consumer) foothold in gaming; it's not offering a solution to a real problem, it's selling an entertainment experience.
  - frou_dh 3y ago
    If increased immersion is a solution looking for a problem then the same could be said for the historical increase of 3D game graphics fidelity in general.
  - jstimpfle 3y ago
    Have you watched the latest Zuckerberg on Lex Fridman, not hard to imagine the problem anymore that it is (will be) solving. It will take some more time though, and I'm still skeptical how many people will not hate putting on such a rig, personally I'm not even comfortable wearing headphones.
    - pjmlp 3y ago
      Still on my podcast download queue, too much subscriptions and not enough time to keep up.
- rogerclark 3y ago
  I've been using XReal (formerly NReal) Air glasses with my laptops lately. They just act as a display when plugged into a USB-C port. After using these seriously for a month or two, it's clear to me that the "killer app" for these HMDs is just using the computer for normal stuff. The ergonomics are great: I don't have to stare down at my laptop screen, and I don't even need a desk or table when I'm using the glasses – it's usually more comfortable to just put the laptop in my lap. And I can turn the laptop screen off, so nobody can see what I'm doing. It's a complete game changer for coffee shops, planes, and working in bed without disturbing your spouse. I don't think the Quest or other VR headsets are typically used this way. The Vision Pro is obviously just a development platform for apps and for Apple to miniaturize everything, and then it's all going into a pair of regular glasses for everyone to wear all day. Meta is trying to get out in front of them with their Ray-Ban partnership, but those don't include a display yet, although I think they could have done it already.
  - coffeebeqn 3y ago
    That’s an interesting form factor - I wonder if you could get a headless laptop for it
    - rogerclark 3y ago
      It's possible. The eye strain is real after a couple hours, though. And I've already run into situations where I wanted to show someone something and had to "change modes". Having the laptop display for auxiliary use still seems important, although you could probably get away with crappier and cheaper screens again.
    - antifa 3y ago
      I hope at least Samsung Dex/Android Desktop has a natural way to plug-in-play into these things, maybe that'll force the iPhone to offer a handheld desktop mode.
- houseatrielah 3y ago
  A sense of presence combined with positional audio should unlock some use cases. Hang out with your favorite podcaster, movies with friends, courtside at the basketball game or MMA fight. Maybe there's a case for virtual travel -- the NeRF models of real places are getting pretty wild. The Lex/Zuckerberg chat was pretty amazing.
- jillesvangurp 3y ago
  What I saw from Apple's announcement a few months ago actually impressed me. It's clever in how it allows repurposing of their existing 2D content (applications, movies, etc), some 3D content (games, 3D movies), and probably an initially very limited number of dedicated AR/VR experiences. Content is king here and whoever launches hardware faces the empty room problem of having a lot of potential but no content to realize it. The Apple vision pro makes for a really great way to enjoy 2D content. So, it's immediately useful that way just as a really premium way to enjoy that content. Using it to just interface with your normal desktop apps also seems highly useful. It's cheaper than getting Apple's really expensive screen and offers more screen real estate. None of that really requires new content. Then there's a huge back catalog of 3D movies, which have been coming out in cinemas for nearly 2 decades now that as of yet have struggled to reach home audiences. The deal with Disney seems like it is a smart move here. Disney has no other way to sell their 3D content right now. 3D television failed and it seems most streaming services aren't interested so far. And finally, there is of course a lot of game and VR content out there that can be adapted. Apple's new game porting kit is a strong hint that they are interested in tapping into that. All of that before developing new content specifically for this device. That's a smart move and it stretches the use of this device beyond just gamers. My guess is that if they can scale production, it will sell really well. And then the dedicated content will ramp up over the next years. Others may copy what they do technically but getting a content strategy together is much harder. Meta and Valve have bits and pieces of it. Same for Sony. But is it enough? I think they need to up their content game. Apple has that nailed it seems.
  - jayd16 3y ago
    Leveraging iOS apps and the app store is a nice position for Apple to be in. I'm still a bit skeptical that most apps will easily convert from multitouch to look-and-pinch. Funny enough, meta does actually have Android apps running in headset. The licensing battle is the bigger issue. I wonder if Meta have a plan to take on flat Android app uploads if it looks like this is the way AR takes off.
    - jillesvangurp 3y ago
      There is more content than just the IOS content. Most desktop apps would be a lot easier. And you can use your existing keyboard, mouse, or trackpad.
- coffeebeqn 3y ago
  I’m skeptical of meta as anyone but seeing the “video” call between Lex and Mark (Lex Friedman podcast on YouTube) with the photorealistic scanned 3D avatars looks really interesting. I only get to see my family about once a year and the zoom calls are hardly an antidote for much
- hedora 3y ago
  All the killer apps are for AR, not VR. Examples: Facial recognition + contact list Shopping list Monitor replacement that lets you see your keyboard and stuff on your desk. Phone replacement that frees up your pockets. Hands-free camera that can take pictures 5-10 seconds in the past.
- jareklupinski 3y ago
  try one of the 'lightsaber' apps, and you may not want to come back to 'the real' :)
  - latchkey 3y ago
    I did and they are super fun to a point. I reached a limitation in my own skillset where getting to the next level felt so far away that it instantly got boring and I stopped.
alenrozac 3y ago
To me it was obvious from the start that the "Pro" part in the "Apple Vision Pro" will be dropped to deliver a "non-pro" product first without some of the features they're still working on - for example, EyeSight was not on during demos etc. I'm interested to see how Cook will price the non-pro version.
TheRoque 3y ago
My myopa gets worse each year looking at a close screen. Could I avoid this by coding with a VR device ? Since its focal point is farther from the one required for a typical computer screen. If it can, I'd seriously consider working with it as much as possible.
Geee 3y ago
I've been trying VR headsets since the first Oculus Dev Kit. Apple has solved most of the problems plaguing other headsets. The only remaining problem, which is a huge problem, is weight and size. VR headset should be as effortless to wear as a pair of headphones. It's absolutely not a "software" problem, i.e. a lack of a killer app. The problems they have already solved: - Controllers and user interface (VR controllers and their associated interfaces are atrocious; you basically need to "shoot" at interface targets like shooting a gun, lol) - Eye-tracking also makes "retina" resolutions possible with less compute, thanks to foveated rendering - Low-latency/high quality AR - Spatial tracking without external base stations - Weight reduction with wired external battery However, I'm afraid they'll need to scrap everything. Bigscreen Beyond is the form factor they should copy. It's just under 200g. Add extremely lightweight cameras for eye/spatial/hand-tracking. Remove everything else, like auto-adjusting IPD and the external display. Move compute to the battery case or stream it wirelessly from an external device. This would allow better thermals as well, and a fan wouldn't be needed in the device. High-resolution AR might have to go as well (although it might be possible to reconstruct from low-quality cameras). I'm also waiting for Beyond to copy what Apple has done, and add wireless streaming. For PCVR in general, compute should be wirelessly streamed to/from a PC, and battery should be wired, like Vision Pro.
- verdverm 3y ago
  https://visor.com https://visor.com is the vision pro on the cheap. The founder talks about his discussions with BB, and iirc, they do not want to add cameras
  - Geee 3y ago
    Seems really interesting! Too bad the website doesn't really tell what it's capable of. I skimmed the FAQ and it said it has two high-resolution cameras for AR.
    - verdverm 3y ago
      This interview is the best I know of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ic_uqEGI18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ic_uqEGI18 MRTV is a great channel for all things VR/AR

33 points by elsewhen 3y ago

Palmer Lucky had an interesting point about these headsets in their current state, that even if we gave them out for FREE, people still wouldn't really use them. He's got a point that there isn't that "killer app" for VR.

d3w4s9 3y ago
I have been using my quest 2 to play beat saber, table tennis, minigolf and other games for a while. Great workouts, and worth every penny I paid for the headset.
code_runner 3y ago
I firmly believe this will suffer the same fate as 3d tv. Even sports couldn’t save the 3d tv. I think the most that people would ever consider would be a HUD with some walking directions or something. I could be wrong and it ends up being the biggest thing since the PC, but I just don’t understand even the most optimistic takes outside of cool gaming experiences.
- lm28469 3y ago
  VR/AR is being hyped on and off for 30 years, until it gets contact lens sized it's useless for most people
  - goodoldneon 3y ago
    It doesn't need to be contact lens sized. There's a sizeable market for AR glasses, as long as their form factor is indistinguishable from regular glasses
    - ghaff 3y ago
      Fashionable glasses would be just fine. It’s still in science fiction territory compared to the current state of the art.
- tmikaeld 3y ago
  It's interesting that you touch on the 3D TV, because real (180 degree, 3D, 3600P) 3D video in VR is really stunning compared to flat-screen. This is where i think Apple can get a real foot into the door eventually, because the experience would be such a large leap from flatscreen.
  - throwaway2203 3y ago
    Content would be incredibly hard to produce for it though.
    - ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
      I suspect most video game developers would suggest otherwise. The engines are really good. In fact, I think that a couple of movies have been made, using Unreal. Those are coming together with AR. That said, advertisers could easily kill this, and there's so much money in ads, that I don't know if there's any way to prevent that.
      - jayd16 3y ago
        Uhm, no. It's incredibly expensive to make high quality content suitable for 3D viewing. Compared to shooting some video it's way more expensive.
        ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
        Not sure why that is a "no." Many modern video games are completely VR-immersive, and with impressive quality, if you have the kit. Yeah, it's expensive, but pro anything is expensive. I have friends that have made movies, and have given me some insight into the process. It's not really something that I think I'd enjoy. What will kill it, will be cheap-ass ads, splattered around a high-quality scene.
        smoldesu 3y ago
        > What will kill it, will be cheap-ass ads, splattered around a high-quality scene. I'll take "Things that never stopped the Internet from succeeding" for $400, Alex.
- makeitdouble 3y ago
  On one side, a cool gaming experience would already be enough of a market. Looking at the Switch for instance, it's not something to sneeze at. Now I don't think there will a "killer" app, but probably many niches, with one or more resonating with each of us. The same way current TV business isn't surviving on a single use case, but a constellation of cases where people want a big screen in their living room.
- verdverm 3y ago
  Virtual monitors / desktop
joshstrange 3y ago
The Quest 2? Yes, I know that from personal experience and I had a friend return his Pro. I'm very interested for the Vision Pro though since it's higher resolution might actually allow me to do real work in it. Currently I maintain 2 offices with my full monitor/dock/camera/etc setup which is a pain and wasn't cheap to setup. Being able to move around (to different offices/locations) with a Vision Pro and have virtual displays would be amazing. Obviously we won't know until we get our hands on it but I have high hopes. Which, if not satisfied, I'll return it.
- jayd16 3y ago
  You could try the Quest 3 that comes out this week. Passthrough is much better and while the resolution does not mean a virtual 4k monitor, it's enough to work in. Might want to experiment with that and virtual desktop in passthrough mode.
- anonymoose33282 3y ago
  I agree that that's probably the most "mass adoption" use case for these things, rather than just gaming or content consumption. I would love to be able to have essentially a pair of "triple monitor setup goggles" that I can throw into a backpack, but right now the cost and battery life isn't there quite yet. But I have hope!
  - mlajtos 3y ago
    Q3 + MacBook might be okay for this. With occasional access to power outlet of course.
strulovich 3y ago
The killer app might be replacing your desktop. It’s just not good enough at it (same way early smartphones could browse the web, but were not good at it) In a way, looks like Apple is gambling on that direction.
- unsupp0rted 3y ago
  Early smartphones weren't good enough at browsing the web, and also the web wasn't good enough at being browsable on early smart phones. I wonder if we need a design revolution before headsets become "killer app" useful. I suspect we don't. Just get the resolution and refresh rate high enough, and it's already a revolution.
  - mlajtos 3y ago
    It wasn't about phones being good for browsing the web. It was (and still is) about having the web in your pocket wherever you are.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
  - danpalmer 3y ago
    > Just get the resolution and refresh rate high enough, and it's already a revolution. Isn't that a solution looking for a problem still? With smartphones the problem wasn't surfing the web – you're right that mobile devices and the mobile web grew up together. The problem was needing information when not at a desktop computer, or wanting more information quicker than you'd get through a phone call, or just wanting human interaction (even if it was online). The killer apps for mobile were things like finding your way around (maps, transport times, traffic), social networking (without logging on to a desktop chat room or actually meeting someone), and photos (without carrying around another device). So far the only "killer app" for VR/AR – something we literally could not do before VR/AR, is immersive gaming. I know non-VR games can be immersive in their own way but VR is clearly a step up. The problem I believe is accessibility – we don't have the physical space, or cheap and good enough devices, or enough content that people find what they like, and that's just one somewhat niche use-case (gaming isn't niche, but gaming aiming for immersiveness is).
seydor 3y ago
> really use them What does 'really use them' mean? I use the Q2 almost daily to take a break just to view some street view images. It's a short-time passive entertainment device for me, and certainly worth the money for it. Most people own a few devices for casual use like that, like a tablet. It doesnt need to be like a smartphone
pjmlp 3y ago
The first time I saw VR headsets being used was at Portuguese version of CES in 1994, it was being demoed with Doom. To this day, it looks like a solution looking for a problem. AR makes sense as HUD for specialized jobs, for everything else give us Holodeck.
- lttlrck 3y ago
  "solution looking for a problem" Which is perhaps why it really only has a (consumer) foothold in gaming; it's not offering a solution to a real problem, it's selling an entertainment experience.
- frou_dh 3y ago
  If increased immersion is a solution looking for a problem then the same could be said for the historical increase of 3D game graphics fidelity in general.
- jstimpfle 3y ago
  Have you watched the latest Zuckerberg on Lex Fridman, not hard to imagine the problem anymore that it is (will be) solving. It will take some more time though, and I'm still skeptical how many people will not hate putting on such a rig, personally I'm not even comfortable wearing headphones.
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    Still on my podcast download queue, too much subscriptions and not enough time to keep up.
rogerclark 3y ago
I've been using XReal (formerly NReal) Air glasses with my laptops lately. They just act as a display when plugged into a USB-C port. After using these seriously for a month or two, it's clear to me that the "killer app" for these HMDs is just using the computer for normal stuff. The ergonomics are great: I don't have to stare down at my laptop screen, and I don't even need a desk or table when I'm using the glasses – it's usually more comfortable to just put the laptop in my lap. And I can turn the laptop screen off, so nobody can see what I'm doing. It's a complete game changer for coffee shops, planes, and working in bed without disturbing your spouse. I don't think the Quest or other VR headsets are typically used this way. The Vision Pro is obviously just a development platform for apps and for Apple to miniaturize everything, and then it's all going into a pair of regular glasses for everyone to wear all day. Meta is trying to get out in front of them with their Ray-Ban partnership, but those don't include a display yet, although I think they could have done it already.
- coffeebeqn 3y ago
  That’s an interesting form factor - I wonder if you could get a headless laptop for it
  - rogerclark 3y ago
    It's possible. The eye strain is real after a couple hours, though. And I've already run into situations where I wanted to show someone something and had to "change modes". Having the laptop display for auxiliary use still seems important, although you could probably get away with crappier and cheaper screens again.
  - antifa 3y ago
    I hope at least Samsung Dex/Android Desktop has a natural way to plug-in-play into these things, maybe that'll force the iPhone to offer a handheld desktop mode.
houseatrielah 3y ago
A sense of presence combined with positional audio should unlock some use cases. Hang out with your favorite podcaster, movies with friends, courtside at the basketball game or MMA fight. Maybe there's a case for virtual travel -- the NeRF models of real places are getting pretty wild. The Lex/Zuckerberg chat was pretty amazing.
jillesvangurp 3y ago
What I saw from Apple's announcement a few months ago actually impressed me. It's clever in how it allows repurposing of their existing 2D content (applications, movies, etc), some 3D content (games, 3D movies), and probably an initially very limited number of dedicated AR/VR experiences. Content is king here and whoever launches hardware faces the empty room problem of having a lot of potential but no content to realize it. The Apple vision pro makes for a really great way to enjoy 2D content. So, it's immediately useful that way just as a really premium way to enjoy that content. Using it to just interface with your normal desktop apps also seems highly useful. It's cheaper than getting Apple's really expensive screen and offers more screen real estate. None of that really requires new content. Then there's a huge back catalog of 3D movies, which have been coming out in cinemas for nearly 2 decades now that as of yet have struggled to reach home audiences. The deal with Disney seems like it is a smart move here. Disney has no other way to sell their 3D content right now. 3D television failed and it seems most streaming services aren't interested so far. And finally, there is of course a lot of game and VR content out there that can be adapted. Apple's new game porting kit is a strong hint that they are interested in tapping into that. All of that before developing new content specifically for this device. That's a smart move and it stretches the use of this device beyond just gamers. My guess is that if they can scale production, it will sell really well. And then the dedicated content will ramp up over the next years. Others may copy what they do technically but getting a content strategy together is much harder. Meta and Valve have bits and pieces of it. Same for Sony. But is it enough? I think they need to up their content game. Apple has that nailed it seems.
- jayd16 3y ago
  Leveraging iOS apps and the app store is a nice position for Apple to be in. I'm still a bit skeptical that most apps will easily convert from multitouch to look-and-pinch. Funny enough, meta does actually have Android apps running in headset. The licensing battle is the bigger issue. I wonder if Meta have a plan to take on flat Android app uploads if it looks like this is the way AR takes off.
  - jillesvangurp 3y ago
    There is more content than just the IOS content. Most desktop apps would be a lot easier. And you can use your existing keyboard, mouse, or trackpad.
coffeebeqn 3y ago
I’m skeptical of meta as anyone but seeing the “video” call between Lex and Mark (Lex Friedman podcast on YouTube) with the photorealistic scanned 3D avatars looks really interesting. I only get to see my family about once a year and the zoom calls are hardly an antidote for much
hedora 3y ago
All the killer apps are for AR, not VR. Examples: Facial recognition + contact list Shopping list Monitor replacement that lets you see your keyboard and stuff on your desk. Phone replacement that frees up your pockets. Hands-free camera that can take pictures 5-10 seconds in the past.
jareklupinski 3y ago
try one of the 'lightsaber' apps, and you may not want to come back to 'the real' :)
- latchkey 3y ago
  I did and they are super fun to a point. I reached a limitation in my own skillset where getting to the next level felt so far away that it instantly got boring and I stopped.

alenrozac 3y ago

To me it was obvious from the start that the "Pro" part in the "Apple Vision Pro" will be dropped to deliver a "non-pro" product first without some of the features they're still working on - for example, EyeSight was not on during demos etc. I'm interested to see how Cook will price the non-pro version.

TheRoque 3y ago

My myopa gets worse each year looking at a close screen. Could I avoid this by coding with a VR device ? Since its focal point is farther from the one required for a typical computer screen. If it can, I'd seriously consider working with it as much as possible.

Geee 3y ago

I've been trying VR headsets since the first Oculus Dev Kit. Apple has solved most of the problems plaguing other headsets. The only remaining problem, which is a huge problem, is weight and size. VR headset should be as effortless to wear as a pair of headphones. It's absolutely not a "software" problem, i.e. a lack of a killer app. The problems they have already solved: - Controllers and user interface (VR controllers and their associated interfaces are atrocious; you basically need to "shoot" at interface targets like shooting a gun, lol) - Eye-tracking also makes "retina" resolutions possible with less compute, thanks to foveated rendering - Low-latency/high quality AR - Spatial tracking without external base stations - Weight reduction with wired external battery However, I'm afraid they'll need to scrap everything. Bigscreen Beyond is the form factor they should copy. It's just under 200g. Add extremely lightweight cameras for eye/spatial/hand-tracking. Remove everything else, like auto-adjusting IPD and the external display. Move compute to the battery case or stream it wirelessly from an external device. This would allow better thermals as well, and a fan wouldn't be needed in the device. High-resolution AR might have to go as well (although it might be possible to reconstruct from low-quality cameras). I'm also waiting for Beyond to copy what Apple has done, and add wireless streaming. For PCVR in general, compute should be wirelessly streamed to/from a PC, and battery should be wired, like Vision Pro.

verdverm 3y ago
https://visor.com https://visor.com is the vision pro on the cheap. The founder talks about his discussions with BB, and iirc, they do not want to add cameras
- Geee 3y ago
  Seems really interesting! Too bad the website doesn't really tell what it's capable of. I skimmed the FAQ and it said it has two high-resolution cameras for AR.
  - verdverm 3y ago
    This interview is the best I know of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ic_uqEGI18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ic_uqEGI18 MRTV is a great channel for all things VR/AR