So 3D glasses are a hassle, but VR is OK?

[Frank@Chicago]

When you read Tech articles there's always someone whining about what a hassle 3D glasses are, even though Passive glasses are practically weightless.

Meanwhile, billions are being invested in VR and companies everywhere are scrabbling to get in early on the VR biz.

I don't get it. If 3D is criticized for being an expensive hassle with too little content, then how is VR already 'better'?

Is there really such a huge market demand to wear a laptop on your head? What about all the cords and cables?

What are you suppose to do if you have a spouse, kids, or friends around? Wave goodbye as you 'turn on, tune in, drop out'?

Sorry for the rant, but with E3 around the corner I'm expecting the VR hype machine to go into overdrive.

On the other hand, maybe the sooner VR arrives and fails the better.

[shawmkreitzman]

I think the current Virtual Reality push is being aimed more at the Gaming Community. The industry is hoping that the market there will be a bit more responsive to such things.

Having said that, consumer-level VR is nothing new; Sony and Olympus both produced Head-Mounted Displays in the 1990s (the Glasstron and the Eye-Trek, respectively) and there have been a handful of companies producing similar technology ever since (Vuzix, the Zeiss Cinemizer, the Headplay etc) but no one has yet been able to make it work commercially. I'm not convinced that this current generation of VR products will have any better luck than their predecessors, but who knows.

I do find it ironic that there is such resistance to the idea of "wearing a laptop on your head" as you correctly describe it, when no one ever has a problem with strapping a pair of loudspeakers to their ears, and even walking around in public like that.

Personal audio has been around for generations, and headphones are completely mainstream (they are even marketed as fashion accessories) but personal video is still regarded as strictly for the nerds.

And if I read one more article about VR technology that makes a crack about people looking like Geordi LaForge, I may scream....

[partridge]

That's actually an excellent point that no one in the tech world seems to have picked up on (I wonder why!)

Here we are on the verge of various companies offering consumers devices that will take them into another world in 3 dimensions, using a fairly big device that will be pretty expensive and can't be shared with anyone else; but at the same time, those same tech sites and reporters are sneering at 3D tv, patting themselves on the back for predicting its demise (even though they heralded its arrival a just few years back).

I've even seen forum posters ask if these devices will play 3D movies!!! er, there's already a great way to watch 3D movies

Also, whatever happened to the "just around the corner" glasses-less 3D tv systems that were demo'd?

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by partridge

Also, whatever happened to the "just around the corner" glasses-less 3D tv systems that were demo'd?

Currently... Retail vaporware.

fitprod

[RallyCat]

I’ve noticed this too, the agony of wearing 3D glasses with tech reviewers and no complaints about VR headsets. I think it’s because when 3D TV’s came out, people expected this new shift from HD to 3D. 3D channels, 3D sports, but no one would really want to put on special 3D glasses every time just to watch TV. So when the 3D TV channels didn’t show up, reviewers were quick to call 3D TV dead.

VR is viewed as a temporary experience, so to wear a VR headset for a brief time for the visual experience seems acceptable. But this is exactly where 3D TV today has settled in as well. As a temporary experience in watching a 3D movie. Not an all day thing.

I see VR working well, mainly in the gaming world but not everyone is a gamer. So it will be interesting in how it will be accepted and where it will find it’s place.

As for, glasses-free 3D TV - sure that would be cool, but when the visual experience would be identical to what we have today, why wait?

[ZIROK]

Sony has had a 3D headset out for a few years now. $800 . Tried it at the Sony store and it was really awesome. Had surround also. Probably not intended to be your main viewing device(but it could be) A Headset can come in handy many times , Student in a small dorm/stuck on a Airplane for 24hrs/holed up in the Hospital for weeks etc. Don't knock them as a fad/gimmick as they have uses.

[Frank@Chicago]

Not to poke fun...but doesn't this unfortunate fellow look like he's been taken as a hostage?



http://www.gamespot.com/images/1300-2861234/

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

Not to poke fun...but doesn't this unfortunate fellow look like he's been taken as a hostage?



http://www.gamespot.com/images/1300-2861234/

Those VR headsets look horrible.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

When you read Tech articles there's always someone whining about what a hassle 3D glasses are, even though Passive glasses are practically weightless.

"Whining"?


It sounds like you don't wear glasses - perhaps not even sunglasses.


If you wear prescription glasses, perhaps you like wearing two pair of glasses at a time; most people don't. It's incredibly clumsy, even if hardcore fans like the idea. Even worse are clip-ons - an idea that has gone nowhere, especially with prescription glasses costing in the hundreds of dollars to be scratched up by cheap clips.

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

Meanwhile, billions are being invested in VR and companies everywhere are scrabbling to get in early on the VR biz.

You don't recognize desperation when you see it?

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

I don't get it. If 3D is criticized for being an expensive hassle with too little content, then how is VR already 'better'?

"Better" according to who? The companies that haven't released it yet? The users who don't own one? Why sweat over ad hype?


These rigs have been around for many years. I remember when the first ones showed up, circa 2003 - VGA eyewear, mono only but to both eyes, and they lasted a couple of months. The were horrible to look at, lots of eyestrain, and I hate to think about the radiation going through someone's eyeballs.


It's popped up every few years, with Sony making an effort recently with some 1080i thing (horrible), then again with a 1080p rig (also horrible). These things have a long way to go before they don't look like a 1980's version of "robot vision" like the Terminator.

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

Is there really such a huge market demand to wear a laptop on your head? What about all the cords and cables?

They're not made for jogging, man. They're made for 3-D fanatics and game nuts. People who like joysticks and controllers and big-ass steering wheels are bothered by that stuff, and that's the target audience.

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

What are you suppose to do if you have a spouse, kids, or friends around? Wave goodbye as you 'turn on, tune in, drop out'?

Buy more rigs, you know, the American Way. What do all these other people do, even with a TV? They sit around bored, waiting for their turn if they're playing, or they wander off and do something else. That's what's happening now, anyway.

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

Sorry for the rant, but with E3 around the corner I'm expecting the VR hype machine to go into overdrive.

On the other hand, maybe the sooner VR arrives and fails the better.

It's not going to fail. It's going to bubble along under the radar forever, with spikes at Holiday Buying Time, and birthdays. As I've said before, it may be the only thing to save 3-D in the long run, since it goes after the same market.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by ZIROK

Sony has had a 3D headset out for a few years now. $800 . Tried it at the Sony store and it was really awesome. Had surround also. Probably not intended to be your main viewing device(but it could be) A Headset can come in handy many times , Student in a small dorm/stuck on a Airplane for 24hrs/holed up in the Hospital for weeks etc. Don't knock them as a fad/gimmick as they have uses.

They have fuzzy, grainy video and extremely unimpressive headphones.


You're right about the target audience - people trapped someplace - but that's about it. They have a long way to go for general acceptance.

[Frank@Chicago]

I wear Passive glasses over my prescription glasses and it doesn't bother me at all.

I actually find it almost relaxing, they feel like sunglasses to me.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

I wear Passive glasses over my prescription glasses and it doesn't bother me at all.

It's like wearing two pair of underwear, to most folks. You're not in the norm, and people buying luxuries want them to at least seem luxurious.

Originally Posted by Frank@Chicago

I actually find it almost relaxing, they feel like sunglasses to me.

Do you wear two pair of glasses - sunglasses, and clear prescription - under normal circumstances?


I've never seen anyone do that in my life. Never.

[iank]

I might be willing to put up with it for (great) VR. 3D doesn't interest or impress me enough to put up with it when I just want to watch a film.

[EVERRET]

Former Google Exec Talks Bringing VR to a Billion People

http://www.sparpointgroup.com/news/v...ty-to-everyone

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by EVERRET

Former Google Exec Talks Bringing VR to a Billion People

http://www.sparpointgroup.com/news/v...ty-to-everyone

Lost in his own hype.

[partridge]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

It's like wearing two pair of underwear, to most folks. You're not in the norm,

Really? I also wear prescription glasses and bought some clip on 3D's to go with them. I use them at home and in the cinema.

Get over yourself, you don't represent the views of everyone out there, you know. You may not like the idea, but clearly many of us don't have your hang ups. Seems to me you just like shooting down Frank for some reason.

[Dragun]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Do you wear two pair of glasses - sunglasses, and clear prescription - under normal circumstances?


I've never seen anyone do that in my life. Never.

Actually, that's what I do. I'm too cheap to get prescription sunglasses, and I hate wearing contacts. It probably looks stupid, but if I'm driving, who cares?

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Dragun

Actually, that's what I do. I'm too cheap to get prescription sunglasses, and I hate wearing contacts. It probably looks stupid, but if I'm driving, who cares?

Clip ons!

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by partridge

Really? I also wear prescription glasses and bought some clip on 3D's to go with them. I use them at home and in the cinema.

Do you know anyone else who does? Maybe even one other person?


I was talking about wearing two full pairs of glasses, anyway. You don't even do that yourself.

Originally Posted by partridge

Get over yourself, you don't represent the views of everyone out there, you know.

I was actually asking if anyone else really like wearing two pairs of glasses. I really don't know anyone who does. In fact, I know many people who swear vehemently that they won't do it, ever - mostly women, but a lot of guys, too.


It's an impediment to adoption of the standard. I don't need to "get over myself", since the problem with glasses is a common gripe among people who have home theaters, and who go to the movies. See the post about the new Mockingjay movie being released only in 2-D.

Originally Posted by partridge

You may not like the idea, but clearly many of us don't have your hang ups. Seems to me you just like shooting down Frank for some reason.

No, I'm being nice. It's not a "hang up" if people aren't interested in something. Actually, I'm just finding it an oddity, and more "enthusiastic fan base" talk that isn't doing this sub-genre much good. Your mileage obviously varies.


Think about ways to save 3-D, and make it popular, other than telling the general population something is wrong with them for not doing what fanatics will do.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Dragun

Actually, that's what I do. I'm too cheap to get prescription sunglasses, and I hate wearing contacts. It probably looks stupid, but if I'm driving, who cares?

Get the "transition" ones that tint themselves in sunlight. I've done it for decades. Why not?