With all of the different flavors of augmented, mixed, simulated, and synthetic reality becoming available, with the vast amounts of money thrown at creating new platforms, it's remarkable how few...
With all of the different flavors of augmented, mixed, simulated, and synthetic reality becoming available, with the vast amounts of money thrown at creating new platforms, it's remarkable how few satisfactory answers exist to the question, "What is it good for?"
There are specific, narrow use cases for "spatial computing" [Abovitz' term]: heads-up weapons targeting and tactical display; supplemental information for medical procedures; embedded/reactive visuals for manufacturing, design, and navigation... But most of these operations have been evolving since the first wearable computers. Magic Leap is evolutionary, not revolutionary. There is a more comprehensive listing of the current device limitations here.
But really, the most compelling consumer uses will be for immersive entertainment.
And does humanity really need more addictive distractions? Whom is this good for?
In my opinion, the main uses will begin to proliferate when the technology begins to edge into sunglasses-sized devices. At the moment any value proposition is pretty evenly balanced by...
In my opinion, the main uses will begin to proliferate when the technology begins to edge into sunglasses-sized devices.
At the moment any value proposition is pretty evenly balanced by inconvenience, and the enthusiasts who are driving sales are simply those willing to overlook these inconveniences.
However, once a pair of sunglasses can overlay menus and shop hours on buildings, or hover names next to associates, or similar simple things, I think AR will start gaining traction among the general population.
Hey, just wanted to follow up with an article that came out today that you might be interested in: https://www.wired.com/story/focals-smart-glasses-with-alexa/
Hey man! Thanks for the links- I only just saw them (still getting used to Tildes). Progress is slowly being made! There are some interesting options being developed for optics that seem like they...
Hey man!
Thanks for the links- I only just saw them (still getting used to Tildes).
Progress is slowly being made! There are some interesting options being developed for optics that seem like they may drive the coming glasses-style options.
Hey there, I thought back to this thread when I saw this video that just came out and thought you might want to see it too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dsVwXzOIjk
This is from Feb '18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnfwClgheF0 Pretty close to what you're thinking, but they binned the project a few months later unfortunately.
You can already view overlay information with most modern cellphones - it's debatable how much extra utility is gained by having the same tags in your field of view for the duration of wear of...
You can already view overlay information with most modern cellphones - it's debatable how much extra utility is gained by having the same tags in your field of view for the duration of wear of your heads-up viewing glasses.
We need Terminator vision so Google can tell us where to buy all the stuff we see! /S That's where I see the stupid amount of money coming from imo; Companies looking for the next advertising cash...
We need Terminator vision so Google can tell us where to buy all the stuff we see! /S
That's where I see the stupid amount of money coming from imo; Companies looking for the next advertising cash cow as business slowly realizes how useless online ads have become and as users are increasingly intolerant of ads in the way of their increasingly visual-centric browsing.
I am not sure an 'overlay' on a mobile device is comparable to something that can sit in your field of view relative to objects. Navigation prompts on the road while riding a bike, or nametags...
I am not sure an 'overlay' on a mobile device is comparable to something that can sit in your field of view relative to objects.
Navigation prompts on the road while riding a bike, or nametags associated with convention attendees next to their heads seem like reasonably unique value-adds that a mobile device could not provide in the same way.
I don't foresee these being consistently visible the entire time you wear a display, but simply used when they'd be helpful.
It's a bit unfair but this really reads like someone reviewing pocket computing during the days of Palm and Psion, or desktop computing in IBMs hayday. Maybe I'm just getting old! So yea it's a...
It's a bit unfair but this really reads like someone reviewing pocket computing during the days of Palm and Psion, or desktop computing in IBMs hayday. Maybe I'm just getting old!
I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.
Thomas Watsonpresident of IBM, 1943
Like, of course the assistant of a C level executive will need an expensive pocket computer to keep lists of his appointments. But really does anyone else need a palm sized computer? They're so clunky and expensive!"
Some idiot in '99 holding a Palm V
So yea it's a cheap shot.
I do kind of agree with you too, I think our economic system miss-allocates resources a lot. So there is ample possibility for new technology to be a net bad thing. Still I think we are at the Palm / Psion point of hands free computing & augmented reality. There are specific niche cases where it makes sense: fighter pilots, surgeons, manufacturing. Inside these niches the technology, software & human interfaces are being developed at some point it will be good enough and cheap enough for everyone. I had a hand me down psion in highschool... it was pretty useless but it was obviously the future.
The possibilities when hands free & AR are cheap and ubiquitous are nuts. With youtube we're already quite a long way down this road that lots of people can watch a 5 min video and then do something that otherwise they'd be hiring a professional. From Checking the cars oil level to replacing the CV Buckets in your Honda S2000.
But what if all the companies selling mass market goods were forced to provide their 3D cad files? Then you could easily have your AR system take a recipe of exactly what to do in what order. Unbolt the glowing red nut with the glowing green socket wrench... AR has the possibility to make anyone an expert to do anything. But what if you get stuck? Dial in a domain expert who can watch over your shoulder and directly point out what to do next.
In the same way that GPS maps are the 'killer app' for pocket computing I think tutorial overlays will be the killer app for AR but I could be wrong, maybe it'll be floating name-tags, maybe it'll just be AR maps again. The thing is until it arrives it's impossible to know.
With all of the different flavors of augmented, mixed, simulated, and synthetic reality becoming available, with the vast amounts of money thrown at creating new platforms, it's remarkable how few satisfactory answers exist to the question, "What is it good for?"
There are specific, narrow use cases for "spatial computing" [Abovitz' term]: heads-up weapons targeting and tactical display; supplemental information for medical procedures; embedded/reactive visuals for manufacturing, design, and navigation... But most of these operations have been evolving since the first wearable computers. Magic Leap is evolutionary, not revolutionary. There is a more comprehensive listing of the current device limitations here.
But really, the most compelling consumer uses will be for immersive entertainment.
And does humanity really need more addictive distractions? Whom is this good for?
In my opinion, the main uses will begin to proliferate when the technology begins to edge into sunglasses-sized devices.
At the moment any value proposition is pretty evenly balanced by inconvenience, and the enthusiasts who are driving sales are simply those willing to overlook these inconveniences.
However, once a pair of sunglasses can overlay menus and shop hours on buildings, or hover names next to associates, or similar simple things, I think AR will start gaining traction among the general population.
Hey, just wanted to follow up with an article that came out today that you might be interested in: https://www.wired.com/story/focals-smart-glasses-with-alexa/
Hey man!
Thanks for the links- I only just saw them (still getting used to Tildes).
Progress is slowly being made! There are some interesting options being developed for optics that seem like they may drive the coming glasses-style options.
Hey there, I thought back to this thread when I saw this video that just came out and thought you might want to see it too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dsVwXzOIjk
This is from Feb '18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnfwClgheF0
Pretty close to what you're thinking, but they binned the project a few months later unfortunately.
You can already view overlay information with most modern cellphones - it's debatable how much extra utility is gained by having the same tags in your field of view for the duration of wear of your heads-up viewing glasses.
We need Terminator vision so Google can tell us where to buy all the stuff we see! /S
That's where I see the stupid amount of money coming from imo; Companies looking for the next advertising cash cow as business slowly realizes how useless online ads have become and as users are increasingly intolerant of ads in the way of their increasingly visual-centric browsing.
I am not sure an 'overlay' on a mobile device is comparable to something that can sit in your field of view relative to objects.
Navigation prompts on the road while riding a bike, or nametags associated with convention attendees next to their heads seem like reasonably unique value-adds that a mobile device could not provide in the same way.
I don't foresee these being consistently visible the entire time you wear a display, but simply used when they'd be helpful.
It's a bit unfair but this really reads like someone reviewing pocket computing during the days of Palm and Psion, or desktop computing in IBMs hayday. Maybe I'm just getting old!
So yea it's a cheap shot.
I do kind of agree with you too, I think our economic system miss-allocates resources a lot. So there is ample possibility for new technology to be a net bad thing. Still I think we are at the Palm / Psion point of hands free computing & augmented reality. There are specific niche cases where it makes sense: fighter pilots, surgeons, manufacturing. Inside these niches the technology, software & human interfaces are being developed at some point it will be good enough and cheap enough for everyone. I had a hand me down psion in highschool... it was pretty useless but it was obviously the future.
The possibilities when hands free & AR are cheap and ubiquitous are nuts. With youtube we're already quite a long way down this road that lots of people can watch a 5 min video and then do something that otherwise they'd be hiring a professional. From Checking the cars oil level to replacing the CV Buckets in your Honda S2000.
But what if all the companies selling mass market goods were forced to provide their 3D cad files? Then you could easily have your AR system take a recipe of exactly what to do in what order. Unbolt the glowing red nut with the glowing green socket wrench... AR has the possibility to make anyone an expert to do anything. But what if you get stuck? Dial in a domain expert who can watch over your shoulder and directly point out what to do next.
In the same way that GPS maps are the 'killer app' for pocket computing I think tutorial overlays will be the killer app for AR but I could be wrong, maybe it'll be floating name-tags, maybe it'll just be AR maps again. The thing is until it arrives it's impossible to know.