The Holy Grail of virtual reality



  • Every modern research needs to have a tangible goal. Something you can dangle in front of sponsors, so they would keep forking out checks. A cool new widget, sexy toy or medicine. Something that will change the world, or at least make people's lives better.

    In some research areas, that's a bit hard to pull off. How do you sell a paper on dung beetle sex habits or nuances of 11-dimensional mathematics to average people? Luckily, VR doesn't have that problem. In fact, the problem there is where to even begin with so many cool applications to chose from. Total awareness for pilots and drivers? Robotics revolution? Complete telepresence for the masses? Untold new and improved forms of entertainment, not all of which involve porn?

    But no, these are all pedestrian concerns. Boring. Unimaginative. This chick (one of the leading VR scientists, apparently) has seen the real future of VR. And it is *gasp* virtually removing walls of an airplane so that passengers would feel slightly less like shit!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ5LJkpwBAI

    You know what's worse than being crammed like sardines for 12 hours inside a metal tube? All that, plus wearing a bulky VR helmet on top of it. What's even the point of visually hiding the shitty situation you're in? You can still elbow the unwashed people next to you. You can still smell their sweat. You can still feel the airplane jumping around during turbulence.

    And even if her brilliant idea succeeds beyond her wildest dreams and I really think I'm sitting on a flying carpet instead of a third class seat.... then what? I watch pixelated Voodoo3D-era mountains fly by for 12 hours? No you fucking idiot! I don't want to replace one mode of transport for another! I want FUCKING ENTERTAINMENT! Movies, games... something to occupy my mind. You know, the very thing YOUR FUCKING PRODUCT IS PERFECT FOR!

    You want to improve the airplane experience for ordinary people? How about CRAMMING LESS SEATS into the fucking thing?

    Her idea? Equivalent to this:


  • Winner of the 2016 Presidential Election

    Some people here would gladly wear some stupid looking VR-helmet if that would change the Discourse-forum to the old CS-style.

    My point: some people see things in different priorities... and some of those are stupid :D

    And just imagne you looking at your plane-food and seeing something you can actually eat!

    I also love the idea of reading bedtime-stories to your kids from the plane. because that is totally not obnoxious to everybody else without stupid VR-helmes, amirite?

    Filed Under: better use VR to filter out certain posts!!



  • @Kuro said:

    Some people here would gladly wear some stupid looking VR-helmet if that would change the Discourse-forum to the old CS-style.

    My point: some people see things in different priorities... and some of those are stupid

    And just imagne you looking at your plane-food and seeing something you can actually eat!

    Filed Under: better use VR to filter out certain posts!!

    I agree, I'm smart, witty and sexy. Although, at this point, I will have to pass on being made the king of the world. I barely have enough time to respond to all the likes and compliments on DiscourseVRtm anyway.



  • I keep instinctively skipping the video 30 seconds forward to skip the part with the boring talking woman (I'm watching without sound so I have no idea what she's saying) and get to the part where they actually show things, but there is no such part! It's a 7 minute long video of a woman talking! Who would make such a thing? Do they not know about text? What is she even saying that takes 7 full minutes?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNMIYRt7i9c&t=3



  • @anonymous234 said:

    the boring talking woman (I'm watching without sound so I have no idea what she's saying) and get to the part where they actually show things, but there is no such part! It's a 7 minute long video of a woman talking! Who would make such a thing? Do they not know about text? What is she even saying that takes 7 full minutes?

    The next video in the series is much better, in that it has:

    1. actual VR-like technology
    2. that is employed in a not-100%-bullshit application

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STMcWUtQr1Y

    Oh, and even if this guy wanted to use VR to explore feelings or some bullshit like the last one, his goat beard would have made up for it.


  • BINNED

    To sum it up:

    @cartman82 said:

    sex toy

    @cartman82 said:

    all of which involve porn

    @cartman82 said:

    I couldn't agree more!



  • I was really confused about this post until I figured out I had wandered into the side bar wtf.

    On a related note, my occulus sdk2 should be coming this month, but I won't be making this type of thing.

    I think it's less about what the image is, and more about if you can control people's emotions with vr, which.. I strongly suspect you can.



  • @cartman82 said:

    his goat beard would have made up for it

    To get away with a look that silly, you need a massive organ.



  • The real irony is - even if you got this to work, it wouldnt be fitted in third class as a standard aircraft feature, so you have to bring your own. I don't know how long any battery might last on that piece of kit, but im betting it would run out before you arrived at your destination.

    I put forward the point that the occulus is to virtual reality what new 3d is to old 3d. Same shit, different decade, doesn't work.



  • @cartman82 said:

    You want to improve the airplane experience for ordinary people? How about CRAMMING LESS SEATS into the fucking thing?
    One word: Money. The VR is probably cheaper than flying with less paying customers on board.



  • Given the predicted prices of oil, I expect that the airlines are going to go for cramming yet more seats into the plane, and filling the cabin with an airborne drug to convince everyone they're on a flying carpet without the hassle of VR.



  • Most planes (at least in usa domestic flights) come with outlets for laptops, hand held, mp3 players, etc. So power probably wouldn't be an issue.


  • Discourse touched me in a no-no place

    @Matches said:

    Most planes (at least in usa domestic flights) come with outlets for laptops, hand held, mp3 players, etc. So power probably wouldn't be an issue.

    Most European flights are so short that there's no need for charging. With transatlantic flights, it depends on the plane and where you're sitting in it. (The carriers don't like to take the planes out of service for the upgrades required.)



  • @cartman82 said:

    How about CRAMMING LESS SEATS into the fucking thing?

    I herd that plane profit margins per passenger are terrible, so they have to cram people and still ask exorbitant prices.

    We need some major improvement in flight technology, basically, and it's probably going to have to come from energy supply and engines.



  • @Matches said:

    Most planes (at least in usa domestic flights) come with outlets

    I question the "most" part of that statement. I've seen them in first/business class, but never that I can recall in coach. And short (<= 2 hours) flights on either small, regional airlines or major low-fare airlines (I don't know what portion of US domestic flights these comprise, but I think it's probably significant, thus my questioning of "most"), get real; you're lucky just to get a seat instead of being shoved in the baggage compartment.

    @dkf said:

    Most European flights are so short that there's no need for charging.

    That, of course, depends on the battery and what you're doing with it. All of the flights I've taken in the last few years have been 2 hours (SEA to SFO/OAK/SJC or vice versa). My laptop battery will last more than long enough in general use, but not even close for gaming, and no outlets available.



  • I've had them on every southwest airplane I've flown in in the last several years.

    United too.

    airlines with power outlets in economy

    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=airlines+with+power+outlets+in+economy [using as a url shortener and not in the sarcastic sense]

    [Edit] Removed some ambiguity, I'm not a pilot.



  • @Matches said:

    I've had them on every southwest airplane I've flown in in the last several years.

    Your experience is different than mine, then. Also, one of the results of the link you posted — as of 10/15/13

    :

    So no dice on either of the airlines that fly where I want to go and have what passes for "reasonable" fares.


  • BINNED

    @dhromed said:

    We need some major improvement in flight technology, basically, and it's probably going to have to come from energy supply and engines.

    I want airships back! I don't care they are slow, I want to fly in one. Will pay with my left kidney.



  • Sorry, I think that flight was actually american airlines, I flew cross country from oregon to ohio for about 230ish dollars.


  • ♿ (Parody)

    @HardwareGeek said:

    I question the "most" part of that statement. I've seen them in first/business class, but never that I can recall in coach.

    It's generally in newer planes and some that have been refurbished recently. And obviously not little regional jets.


  • ♿ (Parody)

    @Onyx said:

    I want airships back! I don't care they are slow, I want to fly in one.

    About 30 years ago, I got a ride in a Goodyear blimp. The cabin I rode in is now in the Smithsonian, at the Air and Space museum near Dulles airport. It was pretty awesome. And loud.


  • Considered Harmful

    @Onyx said:

    I want airships back! I don't care they are slow, I want to fly in one. Will pay with my left kidney.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCG22JdDqyk


  • BINNED

    This video is not available in your country.

    Sorry about that.

    No Youtube, fuck you. The only reason you got away with it is because I'm to lazy to fuck with proxies atm.


  • Considered Harmful

    @Onyx said:

    >This video is not available in your country.
    >
    >Sorry about that.

    No Youtube, fuck you. The only reason you got away with it is because I'm to lazy to fuck with proxies atm.

    If it makes you feel better, it asks me to pay 2 bucks for the privilege. Which is the first time I've seen YouTube ask me for cash, and I fear that now they have the capability, it will start to fill up with pay-per-view videos, to the point where most results cost money.

    Anyway, if you have Netflix, it's Archer S01E07 - Skytanic, featuring a modern airship.



  • @Onyx said:

    No Youtube, fuck you. The only reason you got away with it is because I'm to lazy to fuck with proxies atm.

    Balkan solution


  • BINNED

    We don't get no Netflix, we don't get no Hulu, we don't get no syndication. Well, we do, but I had to, come on!.

    We get...

    @cartman82 said:

    Balkan solution

    Yeah, what he said.


  • Considered Harmful

    @Onyx said:

    We don't get no Netflix, we don't get no Hulu, we don't get no syndication. <small><small>Well, we do, but I had to, come on!.</small></small>

    We get...

    Yeah, what he said.

    I don't normally condone piracy, but if they won't even let you throw money at them, what option do you have? (Not watch? scoff) I really don't understand that business model.

    Anyway, I love that show, and it seems kind of under-appreciated.



  • I feel like it started declining in Season 4, and I gave up on S5, I'm just not feeling it anymore.

    As for the whole piracy thing, here in Australia our options for most shows are:

    1. Piracy
    2. Overpriced Cable provider with a total monopoly and owned by the same man who owns most of our news media, with a reputation for interfering in our politics.

    I'd be willing to pay for stuff, if I could pay for just the stuff I want to watch, not 6795846 channels of shit
    Just kidding. I ain't paying for jack shit



  • @trithne said:

    owned by the same man who owns most of our news media

    That wouldn't happen to be the man that owns most of our news media, would it?



  • Good grief he's everywhere.

    As I understand though, at least you have competing cable providers?



  • @trithne said:

    As I understand though, at least you have competing cable providers?

    I don't have cable. I use the TV that comes over the air and goes into my box with flashing lights.


  • BINNED

    @ben_lubar said:

    I don't have cable. I use the TV that comes over the air and goes into my box with flashing lights.

    Fuck those things! Seriously. Freaking pieces of crap, every last one of them.

    Either the menus are atrocious, won't let you reorder the channels properly, keep deleting them, or start spazzing out as soon as there's even a slightest change in the voltage. Like turning on a light using a potentiometer instead of a switch.

    I've had one that started freaking out, no joke, if a 50cc moped went by my building. And there are a lot of mopeds here.



  • I've never had any problems with mine. It says INSIG͜͡NIA on it.


  • I survived the hour long Uno hand

    We have carefully defined territories where cable companies have a gentleman's agreement not to enter each other's turf:

    So in theory, if I dislike Time Warner I can move to another city where Comcast reigns supreme, but the one's as bad as the other.



  • @Yamikuronue said:
    So in theory, if I dislike Comcast I can move to another city where Comcast reigns supreme, but the one's as bad as itself.

    Filed Under: mergered that for you, we need a new tag cloud to attack


  • ♿ (Parody)

    They don't include Verizon FiOS, which isn't exactly a traditional cable provider, but the signal comes in over a cable. In my area, I think we can have FiOS (I have this) or Cox. Then, of course, there's also DirectTV and Dish Network, both of which I've used in the past.

    Of course, the satellite guys don't provide internet or phone service, but they're available pretty much everywhere.



  • @dhromed said:

    We need some major improvement in flight technology, basically, and it's probably going to have to come from energy supply and engines.

    Solar powered dirigibles FTW!


  • 🚽 Regular

    @flabdablet said:

    Solar FREAKIN' dirigibles.
    FTFY



  • Just to get back on track for a moment, I tried an Oculus Rift today. I don't know if it's because I have funny eyes but to get the proper look, I had to hold the glasses 1/2 inch further away from my eyes than the headset wanted to set them up, so my principle experience was lovely and pixellated due to my focusing on all the pixels in the near field.

    I'll try it again tomorrow at one of the other vendors' booths.



  • You should check if it's 1080p v2



  • I'll ask tomorrow before I sit down. Then again if I have time I might try out the Project Morpheus booth instead.



  • @flabdablet said:

    Solar powered dirigibles FTW!

    Gotta go slow



  • Don't go slow. You might get attacked.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPH1OoTobtk


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