It’s true that history seems to repeat itself. And the longer you observe the course of events, the more you start to notice. Take for example how tech pundits almost overwhelmingly ridiculed Samsung’s Galaxy Note “phablet” when it first came out. All the same arguments used to explain how no one would want a large phone are now being made against using VR headsets.
"It’s Too Large and Heavy"
Tech pundits today can’t imagine anyone wanting to use a VR headset because they’re too large, too inconvenient, and too heavy. But that’s a ridiculous charge because today’s headsets are the equivalent of the shoulder-mount 1980s camcorders. No one carried those ’80s monstrosities around everywhere because they were just too inconvenient.
Tech pundits today can’t imagine anyone wanting to use a VR headset because they’re too large, too inconvenient, and too heavy. But that’s a ridiculous charge because today’s headsets are the equivalent of the shoulder-mount 1980s camcorders. No one carried those ’80s monstrosities around everywhere because they were just too inconvenient.
But the tech evolved to the point where having a camcorder could be included in a small and light tech device that everyone already carries around, their phone. Now, almost everyone who walks the Earth carries a camcorder with them.
It was at the point manufacturers could incidentally include a camcorder with something that everyone already carries every day where the tipping point occurred.
And there is a parallel with VR headsets. People have been wearing glasses for hundreds of years. Wearing lenses over your eyes is nothing new. When AR and VR can be added incidentally without much added weight or girth, the tipping point will occur for this tech.
Some people might object that “not everyone wears glasses or wants to.” But people argued the same point about the Apple Watch. However, increased utility and access to information has made millions upon millions of people start wearing an Apple Watch who normally wouldn’t wear a watch at all.
But the Phone Is the Perfect Form Factor?
Tech pundits also pooh-pooh the idea of a headset ever replacing the phone because the phone is more convenient. Such a knee-jerk reaction doesn’t make sense. These critics are simply averse to change.
Is it really more convenient to have an object which you have to hold in your hand? Certainly not when you’re driving or carrying your groceries into your house. Have you ever tried watching an instructional video while working on your car with the hood up? I have, and it’s not easy. Plus, when you’re not holding your phone, you have to put it someplace. If it’s in your pocket, you can’t see the screen. If it’s on your desk, you might forget about it and leave it behind.
What I love my Apple Watch is the ease of reading my messages without pulling my iPhone out of my pocket. Since it’s strapped to my wrist, I don’t have to place it on a table to use my hands. Also, I never leave it behind or drop it, which has happened to my iPhone countless times. But even the largest ever Series 7 Apple Watch has a tiny screen compared to an iPhone.
But an AR/VR headset would rectify the problem of the Apple Watch’s tiny screen. It could simulate a 32” monitor while I’m sitting on a train. It has all the benefits of the Apple Watch with none of the drawbacks.
People Won’t Give Up Comfort for Increased Information?
Do tech pundits actually think about the things that they write? I’ve seen many articles that declared people would never want to wear an uncomfortable headset versus carrying a phone.
For the sake of argument, if I grant them the point that the headset is going to be more of a personal sacrifice in comfort, there is precedent for people doing exactly that.
Prior to the smartphone revolution, the R&D departments in the phone industry were all about making phones smaller and lighter. It was a status symbol to have the smallest phone in the group because it was also the most expensive. My how times have changed.
If you had a small enough phone, you could easily put it in your shirt pocket or an ash tray. But now those days are gone. Why? Because people were willing to trade convenience for being able to see more information. And phones have been getting larger, heavier, and more inconvenient ever since.
I can’t carry my iPhone 13 Pro Max in most of my shorts pockets now. This conundrum has forced me to shop for new pants with a dedicated phone pocket. Whoever thinks that we’ve achieved the “perfect form factor” for mobile information is out of their mind.
Today’s phones are too big and too heavy, an industry ripe for disruption. I would welcome the equivalent of a sunglasses-type device which would allow me to see my iMessages without even raising my wrist. People wear glasses all the time; there’s nothing odd about that. Plus, if it lets me watch a quick YouTube video in 80”-TV-equivalent format while my wife tries on dresses in the fitting room—nice.
It was at the point manufacturers could incidentally include a camcorder with something that everyone already carries every day where the tipping point occurred.
And there is a parallel with VR headsets. People have been wearing glasses for hundreds of years. Wearing lenses over your eyes is nothing new. When AR and VR can be added incidentally without much added weight or girth, the tipping point will occur for this tech.
Some people might object that “not everyone wears glasses or wants to.” But people argued the same point about the Apple Watch. However, increased utility and access to information has made millions upon millions of people start wearing an Apple Watch who normally wouldn’t wear a watch at all.
But the Phone Is the Perfect Form Factor?
Tech pundits also pooh-pooh the idea of a headset ever replacing the phone because the phone is more convenient. Such a knee-jerk reaction doesn’t make sense. These critics are simply averse to change.
Is it really more convenient to have an object which you have to hold in your hand? Certainly not when you’re driving or carrying your groceries into your house. Have you ever tried watching an instructional video while working on your car with the hood up? I have, and it’s not easy. Plus, when you’re not holding your phone, you have to put it someplace. If it’s in your pocket, you can’t see the screen. If it’s on your desk, you might forget about it and leave it behind.
What I love my Apple Watch is the ease of reading my messages without pulling my iPhone out of my pocket. Since it’s strapped to my wrist, I don’t have to place it on a table to use my hands. Also, I never leave it behind or drop it, which has happened to my iPhone countless times. But even the largest ever Series 7 Apple Watch has a tiny screen compared to an iPhone.
But an AR/VR headset would rectify the problem of the Apple Watch’s tiny screen. It could simulate a 32” monitor while I’m sitting on a train. It has all the benefits of the Apple Watch with none of the drawbacks.
People Won’t Give Up Comfort for Increased Information?
Do tech pundits actually think about the things that they write? I’ve seen many articles that declared people would never want to wear an uncomfortable headset versus carrying a phone.
For the sake of argument, if I grant them the point that the headset is going to be more of a personal sacrifice in comfort, there is precedent for people doing exactly that.
Prior to the smartphone revolution, the R&D departments in the phone industry were all about making phones smaller and lighter. It was a status symbol to have the smallest phone in the group because it was also the most expensive. My how times have changed.
If you had a small enough phone, you could easily put it in your shirt pocket or an ash tray. But now those days are gone. Why? Because people were willing to trade convenience for being able to see more information. And phones have been getting larger, heavier, and more inconvenient ever since.
I can’t carry my iPhone 13 Pro Max in most of my shorts pockets now. This conundrum has forced me to shop for new pants with a dedicated phone pocket. Whoever thinks that we’ve achieved the “perfect form factor” for mobile information is out of their mind.
Today’s phones are too big and too heavy, an industry ripe for disruption. I would welcome the equivalent of a sunglasses-type device which would allow me to see my iMessages without even raising my wrist. People wear glasses all the time; there’s nothing odd about that. Plus, if it lets me watch a quick YouTube video in 80”-TV-equivalent format while my wife tries on dresses in the fitting room—nice.
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