Chad Verrall

The problem with Meta (and ideas like it) is that that sort of thing would be amazing in a literal matrix or holodeck, and every possible implementation that is less than that is way too much effort for what you get out of it. I have a screen and text already and it’s fine.

I’m not going to put on a VR headset to “hang out with” someone I can already text.

Sure, but that’s a bit of Apples Vs Oranges. FaceTime Vs VR chat is a closer comparison and the increase presence in VR I can see someday winning that competition.

There’s no increased “presence” in VR. You’re still sitting on a couch looking at a screen and using an input device, it’s just the screen is closer to your eyes. FaceTime improves communication because you’re seeing their face; VR hurts it because you’re seeing a big robot face.

You are 100% incorrect. Immersion and presence are the strength of VR -- With it, I can see your body move, your hands, in addition to hearing your voice and in the future see your face.

You can see someone’s body, hands, and face move via FaceTime TODAY and you don’t have to wear goggles or hold a control device so you’re more free to be authentic and present.

And because you’re seeing their actual face instead of an animated fish or avatar you can see the micro expressions that are an essential part of deep human communication. That’s impossible to replicate in VR until we’ve got a holodeck, like Geoff said.