Virtual reality (VR) technology has made significant strides in recent years, and its potential for mainstream adoption is finally being realized. Ed Newton-Rex, founder of Fairly Trained, a non-profit that certifies generative AI companies, and visiting scholar at Stanford University, recently put the Meta Quest 3 headset to the test, finding it to be a game-changer.
One of the most significant advantages of VR is its ability to enhance productivity. Newton-Rex spent a week working in virtual reality, using multiple screens and environments to get his work done. He found that he could focus better without distractions, and his experience was comparable to working on real-world computers.
VR also has the potential to revolutionize exercise and entertainment. With the Quest 3’s improved passthrough feature, Newton-Rex was able to conduct a personal training session in his garden, while watching a film during a flight was an extraordinary experience that left him “never going back” to in-flight entertainment.
While there are still kinks to be ironed out, such as battery life and connectivity issues, the author believes that VR has reached a tipping point. With its potential for single-player use, VR is now genuinely useful for work, exercise, and entertainment. Newton-Rex concludes that we should not count on small screens being how humanity communicates with machines for ever.
As VR technology continues to advance, it’s clear that its potential is finally being realized. With improvements in affordability, user experience, and app availability, the future of VR looks bright, and its impact on various aspects of our lives cannot be overstated.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/25/virtual-reality-work-exercise-relax