Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR • Hacker News Board

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#201

Post by dieselgate » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:27 PM UTC

spywaregorilla wrote: post #189

closedloop129 wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was no need for instant messaging and yet people don't use mail exclusively. VR will work for the next generation when children grow up on VR playgrounds because parents can pretend that they don't watch tv all day. You don't need a phone anymore. An LTE watch and a VR headset are enough for your online activities because the majority of time is spent in VR. If you have to decide between a cheap phone and a che…

The problem is that VR sucks and there's no way around that with the current trajectory of tech. Take this cringey "demo" from meta: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAL2JZxpoGY It's not possible. It's just not possible with the tech we have or will have any time soon. Start with 35 seconds in. Person on the right is floating legs out. This is impossible. It's possible to render that, but it's impossible to feel like…

I agree with you and your argument.

My one counter point is from playing Ocarina of Time on my N64: when Link jumps off a high object, my body and brain also experience the sensation of “falling” or the “sensation of expecting the full force of gravity in air”. It’s weird to describe in words but maybe it translates. Im curious to what objects/entities our minds can ascribe a “physical self” to, particularly in VR space.

Im aware of fields of study that encapsulate “phantom limb” type stuff and have experienced the sensation second hand (no pun intended my mom was an amputee). But am very curious how our brains process VR - yet I’ve never worn a headset and have very little desire to do so..

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#202

Post by corrral » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:30 PM UTC

bryan0 wrote: post #5

> Today we’re introducing Meta accounts: a new way for people to log into their VR headsets that doesn’t require a Facebook account. Great. where can I not signup.

From the company that brought us "shadow" profiles, this is fucking risible. "Instead of a Facebook account, you can have a... uh... Fasebook account. Totally different, we swear!"

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#203

Post by dieselgate » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:30 PM UTC

soxla wrote: post #200

sahila wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

10 years ago, did you see all your family members keeping a computer with a constant internet connection in their pocket? I think our predictive abilities of the future are often lacking.

Ten years ago I remember being in Best Buy and looking at this stupid 3D TV that was so obviously going to fail because it was a bad idea. I was also at a party a few months ago that the topic of the metaverse came up and someone was talking about how it was the next big thing but had never used an Oculus. Then the host mentioned how they have an Oculus if anyone wanted to try it. You know how many people tried it th…

Interesting point - I commented above on something and mentioned my nonexistent desire to try a headset. Do you think the host/headset owner didn’t want to try it because it’s a hassle or something? It seems like the biggest drawback of VR is that in wearing one you’re removed from your physical environment (unlike a computer, phone, or physical book).

Edit: yeah you’ve described it quite well in saying it’s only interesting to talk about

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#204

Post by Kaze404 » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:35 PM UTC

belval wrote: post #186

impulser_ wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"they killed the platform for privacy-conscious webizen" They are okay with this, because that a VERY small portion of the population. Most people couldn't care less about what a company does with their data as long as they provide a good product.

Even among "privacy-conscious webizen", I take privacy seriously, I have my Nextcloud homelab, private email, use uBlock, use Wireguard on my phone, and use Linux, yet I have an Oculus Quest 2 with a Facebook account, because that kind of tracking is frankly not worrying to me. I use it to play video games. Of all the places where they can track my interest this is not one I worry about. Amongst "normal" people Faceb…

To be fair the Oculus Quest 2 has literally 4 (5?) cameras and internal view of your house, so it's potentially even more invasive than tracking on the web. I own one too but this is something that bothers me every time I take it out of the box.

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#205

Post by corrral » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:39 PM UTC

Patrol8394 wrote: post #56

I am super bearish on Meta: - why would anyone trust Meta/FB on anything they say or trust them with your data - FB became popular because it was easy to use, it was just about uploading and commenting on photos. I don't see any of my family members buying a VR device and connect in metaverse ... there is no way .. - I don't think people will ever use VR devices for the sole purpose of having meeting, video works jus…

Concur. AR's gonna be the next smartphone, as soon as someone launches successful AR glasses. I'm convinced that several major tech companies are seeing enough progress in their R&D departments (or in others'...) that they believe it's not far off. Dunno why else they'd all keep spending so much on AR features & tech when it's obviously a dead-end outside niche applications, so long as you have to hold a device up to use it. All I can figure is they consider it so beneficial to be ready to go when the hardware finally is, and are so sure that day will come in the not-to-distant-future, that they're willing to burn a lot of cash on it now to make sure they're not left behind.

VR's not gonna be mainstream until after AR is. When decent and non-hideous AR glasses can double as VR devices , that is when it might take off, as a secondary use for those. The current bulky power-sucking ones that look dorky, block your sight, and require a whole lot of open space if you want to use them for much—those are never gonna be mainstream.

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#206

Post by gorjusborg » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:50 PM UTC

corrral wrote: post #202

bryan0 wrote: post #5

> Today we’re introducing Meta accounts: a new way for people to log into their VR headsets that doesn’t require a Facebook account. Great. where can I not signup.

From the company that brought us "shadow" profiles, this is fucking risible. "Instead of a Facebook account, you can have a... uh... Fasebook account. Totally different, we swear!"

Yep, they lost me at buying Oculus.

Meta has no scruples. They'll try to track everything I do. I will not give them any more of my information if I can help it.

Is there a VR headset out there with inside-out tracking that isn't made by a scummy advertising company?

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#207

Post by Patrol8394 » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:51 PM UTC

dieselgate wrote: post #199

Patrol8394 wrote: post #56

I am super bearish on Meta: - why would anyone trust Meta/FB on anything they say or trust them with your data - FB became popular because it was easy to use, it was just about uploading and commenting on photos. I don't see any of my family members buying a VR device and connect in metaverse ... there is no way .. - I don't think people will ever use VR devices for the sole purpose of having meeting, video works jus…

I agree with you. Had an extensive conversation with my SO this past weekend about the use of VR tech in education. This was spurred by meeting an individual who was promoting VR for k-12 (I’m in USA) education and that “in 5-10 years kids will all go to school virtually with VR”. Idk the whole thought of VR as a replacement for the “education system” gives me chills. I acknowledge the use of VR tech can be correctly…

> I personally argue this to be similar to crypto currencies.

Yes, tech in desperate need of a purpose. Today there is none.

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#208

Post by Patrol8394 » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:54 PM UTC

closedloop129 wrote: post #165

Patrol8394 wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, but wearing a VR set or glasses with cameras and what not is too invasive. And for what? Meeting in the metaverse? Video works great, I don't need an "immersive" experience. Also, most of my family members have a pretty basic usage of smart phones. But hey, I know nothing, this is just my opinion. Who knows, people are unpredictable.

There was no need for instant messaging and yet people don't use mail exclusively. VR will work for the next generation when children grow up on VR playgrounds because parents can pretend that they don't watch tv all day. You don't need a phone anymore. An LTE watch and a VR headset are enough for your online activities because the majority of time is spent in VR. If you have to decide between a cheap phone and a che…

I already limit screen time for my kids at max 1h a day. You can image how can I feel as parent, seeing my kids spending hours in the freaking metaverse with screens and headphones pretty much embedded in their face. Not gonna happen.

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#209

Post by Patrol8394 » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 9:59 PM UTC

dntrkv wrote: post #117

Patrol8394 wrote: post #56

I am super bearish on Meta: - why would anyone trust Meta/FB on anything they say or trust them with your data - FB became popular because it was easy to use, it was just about uploading and commenting on photos. I don't see any of my family members buying a VR device and connect in metaverse ... there is no way .. - I don't think people will ever use VR devices for the sole purpose of having meeting, video works jus…

> why would anyone trust Meta/FB on anything they say or trust them with your data You should probably ask the ~4B people that use their services.

sure, if FB was such an amazing brand trusted by the billions why would the CEO ditch it and go for a full company re-brand?

Clearly the FB brand is damaged beyond any hope, and this whole metaverse is just a desperate attempt to stay relevant for the next decade. But it is a very long shot.

Re: Meta Accounts: A New Login for VR

#210

Post by somehnacct3757 » Thu, Jul 07, 2022, 10:02 PM UTC

belval wrote: post #187

somehnacct3757 wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have over a year of data now from Apple's app tracking transparency feature. Only 25% of users have opted in and the trend line is not promising. I think the HN crowd is way ahead of the curve on this topic, but still a good indicator of global sentiment.

There is a difference between "Do you want to be tracked" and "Would you be willing to pay more for a headset that is not made by Facebook". If privacy is free, people will take it. If privacy adds 100$+ to the price tag, people will still pick the cheaper option every time.

People may remove the choice from themselves by supporting data privacy laws.

I think if privacy laws were to be made that restrict what data the Oculus can snoop, Meta wouldn't raise the price to compensate. They would sell or shelve the entire Oculus brand and endeavor.

VR has little value to Meta other than a way to sneak cameras and microphones into your home. If you've seen what the Kinect could do a decade ago with IR cameras, the Oculus has those. The Kinect could monitor your heart rate in real time and track multiple bodies.

Nobody will be thinking about the Oculus when they pass the laws, but they may be thinking about Echos and Nest cams and pass laws to restrict audio and video snooping. So Oculus is along for the ride even at its current level of irrelevance.