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Mike Robuck
Mike Robuck
9/7/2016 3:34:35 PM
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Author
VR
Looking forward to hearing about VR while you are at IBC, Adi. I agree about the killer app part. I'm not aware of a killer app that will make me want to fok out $600 for a headset. 

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Adi
Adi
9/12/2016 7:12:16 AM
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Author
Re: VR
@Mike - I am actually less concerned about the price of the headset, which I think will come down but is also not that high - we're forking out nearly as much for consoles, as much for smartphones and nearly three times as much for TVs (depending on screen size). But there's a a consumer comfort level that has to be reached - we don't like putting stuff on our face, quite simply. And there's a slightly different experienec - looking around, exploring the 360 degree experience - which isn't really how we "tube out" currently. And the bandwidth requirements are a concern. Plus, the resolution isn't great at this time. And there's the shift in encoding that will be required...etc. etc. So there's a fair bit of evolution both in technology and viewing behaviours.

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dcawrey
dcawrey
9/12/2016 4:48:47 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: VR
I believe VR will be sticking around. Yet this doesn't mean it's going to become a hit tomorrow. There is still a lot of work to be done on virtual reality platforms for them to become mainstream, that's for sure. 

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
9/16/2016 1:46:54 PM
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Platinum
Re: VR
> "There is still a lot of work to be done on virtual reality platforms for them to become mainstream, that's for sure."

Exactly. We probably won't see significant adoption until bandwidth connections are MUCH MUCH better. Data caps are not exactly encouraging VR headset adoption. If Netflix is still battling ISPs to defend its service, I can't imagine VR content even getting off the ground.

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afwriter
afwriter
9/7/2016 4:00:33 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Content
This is in the same vein as a "killer app", but content is king.  How many times have we seen an increase in console (which is basically what a VR headset is) sales when a certain title or a few desirable titles are launched.  Price is a factor of course, but there needs to be some seriously desirable content before people are going to lay down that kind of money for what seems to be a novelty right now. 

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elizabethv
elizabethv
9/9/2016 5:57:19 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Content
I would have to completely agree with you. The Wii came out with what seemed to be a popular idea and concept. But in the end, while I own a WiiU, we really only play games that are of the "old fashioned" sort - sitting on the couch with a controller in our hands. Maybe as my kids get older and are more interested in video games I might look into more active ones, but since for now it's really only my husband and I playing, we lean towards what we know. We had an XBOX 360 but I really only used that to exercise and even that was relatively short-lived. And that was only about $100 at the time. Not anywhere near $600 much less $800. I would think HALO would be a sure fire name brand to hook up with and get people to join in. HALO fans tend to be committed and price doesn't seem to be a huge deterrent for a lot of them. 

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clrmoney
clrmoney
9/8/2016 10:58:47 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Virtual Headsets
I think virtual headsets have been around for a while but it wasn't a popular thing or something but I don't thibk it want do nay more or less in virtual reality just adding on to it in a way.

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vnewman
vnewman
9/8/2016 11:37:02 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Virtual Headsets
I always thought gamers were trying to escape reality by playing these games, not immerse themsevles in it.

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vnewman
vnewman
9/9/2016 12:58:42 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Virtual Headsets
I was watching Back to the Future 2 where the "future kids" were wearing VRHs and my first thought was, "They look ridiculous."  And I think the intent was for it to look ridiculous.  Nothing has changed.  Aside from sunglasses, which I think people tend to think are cool, people aren't really fans of wearing "glasses on their eyes" in general - hence the popularity of the contact lens and lasik procedures.

I think VR will find it's way without them personally - it won't be total immersion but based on things like Pokemon Go and the like, I don't feel that people care that much.  We like to multitask too much.

 

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
9/9/2016 4:21:03 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Virtual Headsets
The show Community did a great parody of virtual reality -- making it look ridiculous and pointing out all the things that make it a poor replacement for "real life". The bulky headsets and possibility for vertigo are still pretty huge barriers. I think I've seen one VR game that looked like it had some potential, but... there are a LOT of barriers to VR adoption. 

 

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elizabethv
elizabethv
9/11/2016 8:05:29 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Virtual Headsets
@mhhf1ve - I think it's interesting that VR has been "talked about" since at least the 90s, and the same bulky heasets still exist when you see it used. There is an episode of Lois & Clark from the 90s where they use VR and the headset they still looks pretty much the same. They've made just about everything else in technology smaller, but it doesn't seem they will be able to make these smaller - or at least that they aren't really trying. 

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
9/16/2016 1:35:41 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Virtual Headsets
> "They've made just about everything else in technology smaller.."

It's not that easy to make a VR headset much smaller, but you're right that as long as they're bulky and dorky-looking gadgets, there's almost no way it's going to become mainstream. People don't even like wearing prescription eyeglasses, so until there's a direct brain interface for VR... (but then all the software work will be completely different). 

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Adi
Adi
9/12/2016 7:15:44 AM
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Author
Maybe not for TV right away
Given some of these challenges it may be better to focus on slightly different ways of using VR to start with. I like Com Hem's experiement with using VR for a 360 degree program guide, essentially. And for enabling a theatre like view for movies, within the headset. Similarly we may see VR used for gaming and mobile apps first, while the real TV-home entertainment experience comes later. 

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mhhf1ve
mhhf1ve
9/16/2016 1:43:08 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
> "enabling a theatre like view for movies, within the headset.."

Hmm. I'm skeptical that headsets will be any kind of replacement for movie theaters. The benefits of VR headsets include some mobility and interactivity. It would be a step backwards to try to mimic a movie theater with a headset... Part of the reason to go to a theater is to be able to sit next to friends/family and enjoy the experience together. Headsets might not be able to capture that aspect very well for a movie. It's better suited for a interactive game with friends? 

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elizabethv
elizabethv
9/18/2016 9:52:03 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
I get what you're saying, about VR headsets not being geared towards movies, but I don't know that the idea is completely without merit. If you could create a movie that would really immerse the viewer into the world of the movie, I could see there being a market for this. Look at the people that have 3D televisions. There aren't necessarily a lot of people that decided to invest in the concept, but  there is a niche market. I don't think a VR movie would be all that different from a 3D movie, especially if you threw in the possibility of being slightly interactive. Like the books you read as a kid, "If you would drive down the road, flip to page 83, if you would have a picnic flip to page 25." 

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batye
batye
9/18/2016 7:50:08 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
@elizabethv I think everyone still remembers 3D's TV hype... and everyone trying to play safe with VR headsets...

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elizabethv
elizabethv
9/19/2016 8:11:09 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
You're probably right. My best friend actually sent me a picture yesterday, of her "65in 4k smart 3D TV" that she still needs rabbit ears for so they can watch football games. I know they occassionally use the 3D, but I also know it isn't all that often. If I'd invested in something like that only to find it wasn't really worth the investment, I'd probably be a little, can we call it wallet shy? too. 

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batye
batye
9/19/2016 12:13:20 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
@elizabethv few years ago I got adapter to create 3D tv out of regular TV - use it once... adapter still in the box after...

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elizabethv
elizabethv
9/24/2016 9:43:57 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
That's really interesting, I didn't even know they made adaptors to turn a regular TV into a 3D TV. I guess it can't be that great if you have left it in the box for a few years. Kind of like anyone that invested in HD DVD. 

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batye
batye
9/24/2016 11:43:29 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
@elizabethv yes, they did make them, it was something like -

3D Video Wizard Console with 2 Pack of 3D Adult Glasses - https://www.amazon.com/Video-Wizard-Console-Adult-Glasses/dp/B005SN3INA/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1474731582&sr=8-15&keywords=3d+adapter+box


 I do not recommend it as it make me feel bad after watching it :( I use it only once and did not like it :(...

for HD-DVD I got adapter box to xbox 360 -

Xbox 360 HD DVD Player - https://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-HD-DVD-Player/dp/B000JHO4L0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474731743&sr=8-1&keywords=hd-dvd+xbox360


 used few times and put it back in the box :( too many problems to make it run...... still have 12 HD-DVD to watch :) 

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mpouraryan
mpouraryan
9/24/2016 4:41:05 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
But here is the thing:  We can't forestall progress--that's the ultimate challenge right?

 

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elizabethv
elizabethv
9/25/2016 1:12:15 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
@batye - I almost find it a little disappointing what a failure HD-DVD was. When Blu-Ray and HD-DVD were released I really would have bet that HD-DVD would do better. Though I was never in a financial position to start investing one way or the other. I guess that's a good thing, because I totally would have gone the HD-DVD route and now been worse off for it. As it stands I still don't have a Blu-Ray player and have no plans to get one. While I only occasionally buy a DVD anymore (nothing compared to my teenage/young 20s self) they are more often than not kids movies and typically for our car on road trips. Just as soon as they can figure out how to let me stream to a TV in my car (this probaly exists in higher end vehicles) without eating through data like a half starved banshe, I won't be needing DVD's for road trips anymore. Until then, my occasional investment in good ole' DVD's will remain. 

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batye
batye
9/25/2016 3:21:54 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
@elizabethv in Asia I did see people pre-download digital media - all shows they want at home to hard drive and plug hard drive into the car entarteinment unit for a long road trip :)

for now CD/DVD/HD-DVD/BR-DVD is almost dead media...  it like tapes or VHS... :) how I see it as everything is cloud and stream...  

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Michelle
Michelle
9/30/2016 10:42:09 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
@elizabethv I didn't know there were 3D TV adapters. I think I would like to try one some day, but I'm not a fan of 3D movies so I probably wouldn't keep it. 

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mpouraryan
mpouraryan
9/24/2016 4:40:18 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
The notion of a 3-D TV is interesting--elements of it are already before us too.    I hope @batye you may want to share further insights to see whether this is a critical milestone for us to achieve.

 

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batye
batye
9/24/2016 4:42:11 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
@mpouraryan yes, will update - when I test something new related to 3D

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mpouraryan
mpouraryan
9/24/2016 5:05:34 PM
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Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
As I eagerly await your guidance @bayte, what I am curious to see as to why you think there is something "new"--what specifically are you waiting on?   I recently, as an FYI, tested out NY Times 3D App which was kind of cool on my ipHone--but the practicality of it is still of concern--is that why you've not been as involved as you'd like to be?

How about others? 

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freehe
freehe
9/25/2016 3:04:02 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Slow Headset Adoption
@elizabethtv, I was not aware that they could change a regular TV to a 3D tv either. However, what are the benefits of a 3D TV other than watching movies that are produced in 3D.

Headset adoption is slow because they are no real benefits for using them other than gaming. The gaming community is huge but headset companies will have to find other benefits to attract customers to use the technology.

I recently saw at a conference that offered a presentation on using headset for training purposes for companies but this requires training, budgets, culture change, safety concerns, legal protection, and assessing ROI.

It will take more than a drop in price to get customers to buy the headset at an alarming rate.



The virtual reality industry should focus on other technology that can provide quick benefits at a low cost to consumers.

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batye
batye
9/25/2016 11:23:48 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Slow Headset Adoption
@freehe yes, as price of technology is a big deal... it could make it or brake it...

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elizabethv
elizabethv
9/26/2016 1:10:13 AM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Slow Headset Adoption
@freehe - I would almost think company training purposes (or maybe even schools?) might be the best places for VR to lay the ground work needed to make it more popular. Similar to Apples initial investment. I could see several job types that would likely benefit from the use of the VR for training purposes (police officers, EMT's, I could even see it being useful for retail and food service type jobs.) Create a few fun, interactive science or math games. (How about virtual reality disection of animals?) Make the headsets affordable enough that a company would see the benefit in the initial investment in a bulk order or two, get people to see the possibilities in a "forced environment." And see if it really takes off from there. Maybe the next set of Oregon Trail kids will bring VR into a more stable future. 

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mpouraryan
mpouraryan
9/24/2016 5:06:42 PM
User Rank
Platinum
Re: Maybe not for TV right away
We have such experience, though, when actually going to the movies (iMax et. al).   I wonder what your view is on it?   

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