Doing your desk job in VR seems like a gimmick. Meetings in VR are a gimmick. Collaborative real-time design and creative work in 3D - that sounds like it's worth $1500.
I believe I'll be able to replace my monitors to do my desk job with a VR headset within 10 years. Rather than having 2 monitors of different sizes and resolutions on a desk, why not just have as many virtual monitors with exactly the size, position, and distance I want? In fact, why have monitors at all? Just position the windows in arbitrary space in front of me.
Desktop computing with a VR headset is somewhat possible right now, but I am not quite able to stomach the resolution limitations of the Quest 2. I'm looking forward to devices like SimulaVR [0], which intend to fully replace desktop computing with a self-contained VR headset (plus a mouse and keyboard).
In my mind, there are two and a half problems to solve to make it possible. One is pixel density. It has to at least be equivalent (or very close) to our own eyes. Two is comfort, both physical (ventilation, weight) and health-wise (eye strain). Two and a half is being able to navigate without a mouse and keyboard, and preferably no peripherals, but I think I'm able to wait for that.
This is pretty much exactly what I was going to say. I think it's a gimmick for now, but as soon as the pixel density gets high enough it becomes more interesting.
> Two and a half is being able to navigate without a mouse and keyboard, and preferably no peripherals, but I think I'm able to wait for that.
I can't imagine that. I think it'll end up being a normal desk, mouse, keyboard painted into the VR world by using the passthrough cameras.
Something else I've noticed when I put on my Quest 2 is the lighting. I don't like the way the lights in my office feel like they glare in my eyes. Putting on the Quest 2 and hitting a virtual environment gives the feel of indirect lighting and I find it much more comfortable. It's like being outside.
That comfort doesn't last very long, but if I could get away with it for 2h at a time, and have high DPI virtual screens, I think I'd at least try a virtual office.
They also need to make it so I can drink a cup of coffee with the headset on or the whole thing is DOA. Lol.
Low resolutions aside, headsets are still way too heavy and bulky, at least in my experience. Some even get quite hot. I can imagine that the weight and heat could be solved over time, but the bulkiness seems like a very big hurdle. When using lenses you need the distance, so it's hard to see how we can miniaturize headsets without a brand new technological innovation.
Pixel density high enough for acceptable text is already possible, just prohibitively expensive. See Varjo's headsets, for example - at the center of the display they have 70 pixels-per-degree (for comparison the Quest 2 has about 20).
> high enough for acceptable text is already possible
I don't understand this. I code and read in VR almost every day. With proper aliasing, it's extremely acceptable as is. Font characters per degree has to be increased, of course, but Quest 2 is about the same as a 720p virtual monitor.
I actually think pixel density is one of the easier battle to win. Getting a cheap, lightweight, strain-free device to users is the real requirement.
For now, I can't handle more than ~30 mins with any VR/MR/AR device, but if I can actually wear one for several hours and be productive using one - I will be convinced we've turned the corner on this tech.
This is our (SimulaVR's) vision, basically. Our target is to have pixel density/optical quality and comfort good enough to work comfortably.
The pixel density is there (and better than quest pro), and we just need to finish the comfort features -- passthrough, mechanical comfort, integrated host.
Yeah, I think people underestimate the compelling nature of diverse expression. Its more fun to hang out in a game with emotes than it is to hang out in a voice call.
Will headsets replace zoom? I can't say. There are other convenience factors there. But hanging out in a virtual place is empirically compelling.
> Yeah, I think people underestimate the compelling nature of diverse expression.
In my experience whether they find this compelling depends a lot on the respective person. "Manager types" might like it, but quite some programmers would rather detest it.
Beyond Zoom you mean? It might do. Being autistic I tend to see meetings as an organised exchange to information rather than a body language thing, but I can see what you mean.
You're looking at it from the perspective of a higher-end knowledge worker. $1500 to strap a 1984-esque telescreen on your call center employee and have them work from home instead of a cubicle would save a bundle.
If you get motion sickness after 20 minutes of a seated experience that is running at full frame rate, with no artificial locomotion, you are decidedly in the minority. It is not impossible, but it is far from common.
Not all - beat saber you're still, workrooms meetings you're still.
Sim Racing, any game where you fly or run around - those are artificial locomotion and can definitely take some getting used to for some (not all) people.
Everyone I know has a cap of around 20 min for their VR experience, some for motion sickness, some headaches. It's a small sample size of just people I know, but it's significant enough to mention.
