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The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

theatlantic.com

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Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#41

Post by lazide »

api wrote: post #17
lolinder wrote: post #11

> For a time, at what may have been the height of the internet’s thrall, it became popular to pretend that the digital and material worlds were continuous—that the “real” one had no special meaning, because cyberspace had become a part of it. That turned out to be wrong. We live in cars and on couches and, separately, we also live on phones. Apple believes it can resolve this conflict—that the digital and material wo…

The problem is not the tech. The problem is what’s on it. Social media in particular runs on dividing us, since maximally triggering or addicting content maximizes time spent staring at the app. This isn’t a new observation. I recall reading back in the 90s about how the problem with TV is what’s on the TV. The tech is fine. The incentives for media are all perverse and destructive.

That’s like saying alcohol is fine, it’s the incentives of the people selling and using it.

Which isn’t wrong necessarily. But definitely is working hard.

Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#42

Post by avidphantasm »

gonzo41 wrote: post #26
cdata wrote: post #20

I saw a bunch of my techie friends all run out to buy one of these on launch day (thanks to their easy availability at Apple stores). As far as I can tell from the reviews: this device is a preview of the future. But, it still needs iterative improvements before it will live up to its promise as a practical workstation or accessible gaming device. It is plain to see that my friends who bought one are enjoying the cam…

Just think, if you put that 4K into an activities fund for yourself you could have weekly meetups in person for a year before running out of cash.

Or a nice vacation with a friend.

Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#43

Post by Der_Einzige »

ilrwbwrkhv wrote: post #10

I think now is actually a special time. All FAANG including Apple have faltered. Now is the time to make the next big thing. A linux based AR glasses which actually works.

These days the N in the FAANG stands for Nvidia and it has not faltered at all.

Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#44

Post by gutnor »

threeseed wrote: post #14
lolinder wrote: post #11

> For a time, at what may have been the height of the internet’s thrall, it became popular to pretend that the digital and material worlds were continuous—that the “real” one had no special meaning, because cyberspace had become a part of it. That turned out to be wrong. We live in cars and on couches and, separately, we also live on phones. Apple believes it can resolve this conflict—that the digital and material wo…

It's easy to make this judgement now when the headset has just been launched. But over the coming decades we are going to new see new types of social interaction that could enhance the world rather than break it apart. For example, being in Australia conferences in the EU and US require a 14 hour flight time and days of adjusting to a new time zone. Likewise there are people working two jobs, have children or are a c…

The world has to evolve in a different way than it is currently happening. Which is not impossible but those headset development are not cheap so the monetisation is a very high requirement.

It is a lot easier to use those headset where they naturally fit: ultra-personalised experience. Like social media v2, lot of potential to connect human, but devolving into jailing human in echo chambers: you can keep in touch with your family and friends across the world, or you can get hooked into a forever stream of news/post/video/product customised to make you engage.

VR headset used for games. I can see the social aspect winning. Spacial computing, I'm scared.

Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#45

Post by smoldesu »

mattlondon wrote: post #15
ilrwbwrkhv wrote: post #10

I think now is actually a special time. All FAANG including Apple have faltered. Now is the time to make the next big thing. A linux based AR glasses which actually works.

It is a struggle to even get Bluetooth working on Linux, forget about AR headsets! I think apple missed the boat here anyway - the next big thing is not AR or VR despite Apple and Facebook betting the farm on it ... They both missed this AI thing and got distracted by VR.

To be fair, Linux is the backbone of the entire Quest lineup. If it was a limiting factor then I don't see why Oculus was so quick to market.

Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#46

Post by AlexandrB »

xeromal wrote: post #22
josephg wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think thats it. Its not the part where we interact with digital devices that is the problem, exactly. Maybe its the part where we stop interacting with other people as people as well. I watched a wild video[1] the other day which really gave me a new perspective on the Apple Vision Pro. Casey Neistat walks around NYC with an apple vision strapped on his head and chats with people in the street. I was arrested…

There's an interesting set of conflicting forces where people are tempted through selfish interests to be lazy interacting with humans and prefer to stay home connected while also craving intimate human interaction. I think this laziness is encouraging us to stay home while also causing all us to feel more isolated and lonely. Like you said, "social junk food", but it's also video games, TV, etc. We've invented more…

> There's an interesting set of conflicting forces where people are tempted through selfish interests to be lazy interacting with humans and prefer to stay home connected while also craving intimate human interaction.

Counterpoint: when genuine human interaction does start to happen online, there's often an incentive to monetize it. It's the monetization that turns it into junk food. Spam, clickbait, infinite algorithmic feeds - they're all symptoms of the need to make money. I wonder if a true public space will ever emerge online.

See also this post that makes roughly the same point: https://catvalente.substack.com/p/stop-talking-to-each-other...

Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#48

Post by zdragnar »

threeseed wrote: post #14
lolinder wrote: post #11

> For a time, at what may have been the height of the internet’s thrall, it became popular to pretend that the digital and material worlds were continuous—that the “real” one had no special meaning, because cyberspace had become a part of it. That turned out to be wrong. We live in cars and on couches and, separately, we also live on phones. Apple believes it can resolve this conflict—that the digital and material wo…

It's easy to make this judgement now when the headset has just been launched. But over the coming decades we are going to new see new types of social interaction that could enhance the world rather than break it apart. For example, being in Australia conferences in the EU and US require a 14 hour flight time and days of adjusting to a new time zone. Likewise there are people working two jobs, have children or are a c…

We already have that with video calls. The headset adds a sense of depth, but since you're wearing it on your face, any visual of you is going to be artificially constructed (i.e. there's a rubber gasket over important facial muscles, so no camera could hope to capture them).

I have much more hope for someone like Starline, though it seems they've gone the AI route to cut down on the number of cameras and hardware for blending them together. https://blog.google/technology/research/project-starline-pro...

Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#49

Post by dr_kiszonka »

garrickvanburen wrote: post #31
lolinder wrote: post #11

> For a time, at what may have been the height of the internet’s thrall, it became popular to pretend that the digital and material worlds were continuous—that the “real” one had no special meaning, because cyberspace had become a part of it. That turned out to be wrong. We live in cars and on couches and, separately, we also live on phones. Apple believes it can resolve this conflict—that the digital and material wo…

> the less connected we've become as people. This ^. I'm hesitant to embrace a tech that so clearly and obviously keeps people separated. At least with a phone, you can position it so 2 people can view it simultaneously.

True. At the same time, VR could afford richer interactions with those who live far away from you. For example, about 30% of older adults in the US live alone. Of course, it would be better to visit or live with them, but that is often impossible.

Re: The Apple Vision Pro is spectacular and sad

#50

Post by DonHopkins »

lolinder wrote: post #11

> For a time, at what may have been the height of the internet’s thrall, it became popular to pretend that the digital and material worlds were continuous—that the “real” one had no special meaning, because cyberspace had become a part of it. That turned out to be wrong. We live in cars and on couches and, separately, we also live on phones. Apple believes it can resolve this conflict—that the digital and material wo…

How long until Robert Scoble ruins it for everyone by posting a photo of himself naked in the shower wearing nothing but an Apple Vision Pro?
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