That's an easy thing to declare but I somehow doubt it will end up quite that way. Certainly AR will have some impact but the hardest thing to tease out is the human factor. Just because a technology may be useful it doesn't follow that it will be adopted at the rate people think it will be. I don't think we'll see many people wandering about the workplace in a partial virtual world within 5 years. Technologists tend to believe every technology is transformative and will be adopted with open arms. I mean, shouldn't we have shuttles to the moon and flying cars by now and robot maids (roomba doesn't count)?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AR/VR Headset Shipments Forecast to Hit 100 Million Units By 2021, Buoyed By Apple, Microsoft, and Others
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Thank you! That's all I've thought about VR when I see those clunky boxes you need strapped to your head. Seems like there's a legit application commercially, but for gaming, I'm personally not felling it and would rather have a controller in my hand--but I'm old
Thank you! That's all I've thought about VR when I see those clunky boxes you need strapped to your head. Seems like there's a legit application commercially, but for gaming, I'm personally not felling it and would rather have a controller in my hand--but I'm old
Well, I'm old too. 48 and I've been gaming since ti 99-4a days! ;-)
I can't tell you that VR brings gaming to a whole new level. I'll always been a fan of dungeon crawlers and other fantasy type games. One of the first VR games I played was Vanishing Realms which actually puts you IN the dungeon and swing swords and shooting bows and huge monsters right in front of you. It's the kind of thing you have to experience yourself. You'll also never want to play another racing or flight sim on a monitor again. I play a flight sim called Aerofly 2 and you actually feel like you are flying a plane. Same thing with Project Cars.
And does it really matter what you look like while playing? VR is a thing you do by yourself and nobody is going to want to sit and watch someone play in VR anyways.
VR is truly the future imho. Apple would be smart to come out with a VR/AR headset sooner rather than later.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Apparently, it's so dazzling with a phone, it can move a flightless bird to fly again...
Google Glasses = creepy
Apple AR = cool?
I guess we'll see. I feel like every company that wants to get into AR has a HUGE battle ahead of them on how they pitch this to the public and what the uses are after Google Glasses crash and burned a few years back.
Apple AR = cool?
I guess we'll see. I feel like every company that wants to get into AR has a HUGE battle ahead of them on how they pitch this to the public and what the uses are after Google Glasses crash and burned a few years back.
Apple's "entry" into this tech is nothing but good, more devs, more visibility, potentially more consumer interest, having seen some of the next gen AR/VR hardware, many of the complaints about the current crop of products will be resolved very soon, the main blocker is cost, but the aforementioned consumer momentum could change that as well (one of my companies has been engaged in xR work for a few years).
Dammit, hahaha, I was not expected a giant Beaker pic, I almost choked on my coffee
The phone headsets have [biconvex] lenses to do the same, phone generates a stereo image - it's very cost effective as the phone contains the display, GPS, motion tracking/sensors, etc., and it's pretty good depending on the quality of the headset housing.
Dammit, hahaha, I was not expected a giant Beaker pic, I almost choked on my coffee
The phone headsets have [biconvex] lenses to do the same, phone generates a stereo image - it's very cost effective as the phone contains the display, GPS, motion tracking/sensors, etc., and it's pretty good depending on the quality of the headset housing.
Its funny to know that our grandchildren will look at those VR glasses and be like LOL! Look at those huge things!
VR is the new 3D Tv that was the new Bluray that was the new... VR is dead in the water. Predicting massive sales based on declining user interest is just flat out incompetent. Even a basic understanding of human behaviour shows you why VR will never hit more than a niche category. It's everything from, looking dumb to making you feel sick to being rude to do anywhere but in a room on your own but you need a spotter too and loads of free space that no one has and content to play that doesn't exist, that needs to be authored specially, that can't make money because it's too niche and so you are left with terrible indie developers who can only develop light weight graphics. It's DOA and will be forever, not because the tech isn't there but because VR isn't something people want to do with their time no matter how immersive.
I'm waiting for Star Trek's holodecks.
Anyways, besides gaming, I could see AR/VR useful in interior design & architecture apps. IKEA's already coming out with an app. It would be useful to checkout a remodeling project or new building in VR before you start building.
[doublepost=1497963712][/doublepost]
I hope you're being sarcastic. If not: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-mobile-upgrade
Anyways, besides gaming, I could see AR/VR useful in interior design & architecture apps. IKEA's already coming out with an app. It would be useful to checkout a remodeling project or new building in VR before you start building.
[doublepost=1497963712][/doublepost]
What is a "Windows Phone"?
I hope you're being sarcastic. If not: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-mobile-upgrade
"Thanks for speaking on behalf of all of us", Love, the human race
[doublepost=1497964266][/doublepost]
I hope you are kidding that you thought I maybe wasn't being sarcastic.
Apple has said they don't make gaming computers and they don't make Pro computers, but the future is gaming and AR. Its about time for Apple to eat their own words and get back in the game. A single $5k computer for developers is not enough. Apple caters to every other niche, I wonder why Pros and Power users are ignored. Guess they are not politically correct.
I managed to run VR apps on my iPod Touch 5G, which has the equivalent processing power of the iPhone 4S.
I think especially AR/VR has got potential to become bigger than we could imagine right now. However, I do not trust these kind of predictions, since they don't get near the true numbers in reality. As compelling as they may sound to some people. The most important question right now is whether AR/VR will actually become 'something'. Currently, there's many people saying that it's got no future. I saw a comment just a minute ago, about how it will end up like 3D televisions. Well, I honestly don't believe it'll be like that.
No doubt that AR/VR will become more popular with the years to come. The thing is, it needs a powerful platform and practical implementation. With iOS 11, Apple will be delivering just that platform. But will developers take fully advantage of it? And not just with funny games and all? Or what IKEA wants to do for example? Because I strongly believe AR has much more potential then that.
In fact, just last weekend I was thinking about how Apple could transform the Camera app into a smart 'wikipedia' kind of thing. As you are pointing the camera on any object, it would provide relevant information. I'm talking Wikipedia information about a POI, or the ability to 'scan' a movie poster to find it in IMDb, iTunes, Netflix etc. Or when you point it a an animal, plant or tree for example,it shows what it exactly is.
Call me crazy. But this is how I see the future of AR. Kinda like with Hololens by the way. But just right there, in your Camera app. No need for extra ultra expensive hardware that you also need to wear on your head like you're some kind of weirdo (no offense to those who do this). It should be as simple as opening your Camera app, also your viewfinder, and that's it. Just point it at any random object, and it'll show you the information you need. It could go even further, by using the data in future usage on your device (kinda like how the News app will anticipate on what you do on Safari). From a privacy perspective it might be a bit too much for some, but I'd love to see something like this.
But that's just wishful thinking.
No doubt that AR/VR will become more popular with the years to come. The thing is, it needs a powerful platform and practical implementation. With iOS 11, Apple will be delivering just that platform. But will developers take fully advantage of it? And not just with funny games and all? Or what IKEA wants to do for example? Because I strongly believe AR has much more potential then that.
In fact, just last weekend I was thinking about how Apple could transform the Camera app into a smart 'wikipedia' kind of thing. As you are pointing the camera on any object, it would provide relevant information. I'm talking Wikipedia information about a POI, or the ability to 'scan' a movie poster to find it in IMDb, iTunes, Netflix etc. Or when you point it a an animal, plant or tree for example,it shows what it exactly is.
Call me crazy. But this is how I see the future of AR. Kinda like with Hololens by the way. But just right there, in your Camera app. No need for extra ultra expensive hardware that you also need to wear on your head like you're some kind of weirdo (no offense to those who do this). It should be as simple as opening your Camera app, also your viewfinder, and that's it. Just point it at any random object, and it'll show you the information you need. It could go even further, by using the data in future usage on your device (kinda like how the News app will anticipate on what you do on Safari). From a privacy perspective it might be a bit too much for some, but I'd love to see something like this.
But that's just wishful thinking.
I purchased the PSVR last year and returned it once the initial "wow" factor has passed. I realized that Apple had a point about VR not being ready. In the case of the PSVR, the "screen door effect" was absolutely distracting to me. I have heard that the other platforms were just as bad.
It takes a lot of compute power to render VR and today compromises have to be made. Refresh rate has to be higher to avoid motion sickness, from what I understand, and that means compromises in image quality. Even today the GTX 1080 is barely sufficient to run the latest games in 4K games on ultra setting.
I will definitely jump back into VR when the technology is ready to deliver high definition, refined experience. I suspect Apple will be there at that point. I really hope they make a solid headset, too.
It takes a lot of compute power to render VR and today compromises have to be made. Refresh rate has to be higher to avoid motion sickness, from what I understand, and that means compromises in image quality. Even today the GTX 1080 is barely sufficient to run the latest games in 4K games on ultra setting.
I will definitely jump back into VR when the technology is ready to deliver high definition, refined experience. I suspect Apple will be there at that point. I really hope they make a solid headset, too.
The CEO criticized Apple because no Mac could officially run VR. Only until (WWDC announcements ) now have Apple put a decent graphics card inside the Mac / eGPU that provides enough performance to run a VR headset.
It wasn't the case of Apple waiting... it was the case of ****** graphic cards inside the Mac.
It wasn't the case of Apple waiting... it was the case of ****** graphic cards inside the Mac.
I don't care! Other people can go and mind their own business!!
[doublepost=1497965769][/doublepost]
Yea, and it was crap!
It's not up to Apple to save the Vive and that thing is still alive and kicking. I've tried it out and it's awesome. Apple has nothing to do with the Vive and only the PC industry can keep that going. Mac or PC, it does NOT matter. It all lies in accessible specs that can handle VR, NOT how gorgeous or beautiful the desktop is ( I'm talking to you Apple ).
Beauty does NOT save the day, but only substance.
And VR has already been adopted. OPEN your eyes. There's a gaming lounge here in this state that has the Vive all hooked up ( I think 2 units ). There's also one at a maker space called Generator where people join up to make or custom build things as a DIY service and community space. Even art and design schools will be using them for creating three-dimensional imagery.