Even so, the total amount of VR hardware sold is small compared to the alternatives. There are now 20 million VR units in circulation cumulatively by 2022, regardless of brand or manufacturer. That’s relatively a lot compared to before, but relatively little compared to games, TVs, and non-VR monitors. For example, the current PS5 + XSX consoles are a larger sales market, and with PC games and older consoles included, there’s no competition at all.
Not that it’s crazy; Virtual reality is much newer and more complicated. VR is bigger than ever, and it’s certainly not a totally failed idea. Millions of sales are nothing. But compared to traditional screens, it’s not big. Everything is relative.
The core improvements actually have to come a significant part from the chip industry, so that goes indirectly and is mostly a matter of waiting for the VR companies themselves (not necessarily, of course, they could design the chips themselves and bring this into some extent). So you’re right that the necessary effort and investment certainly shouldn’t come from the VR companies themselves; the tech world as a whole should be a decade ahead. But other improvements are more on par with them, such as the screens, the lenses, the tracking, the comfort, the reduction in the size of the glasses as a whole, perhaps helping to improve wireless standards, and probably many other aspects.
If I ran a VR business right now, I’d probably try to quit. Chips and screen techniques are improving due to the demand for smartphones and TVs, among other things, which can later be used for the next round of VR. Meta will have to choose between stopping and trying again later, or continuing as the technology improves.
[Reactie gewijzigd door geert1 op 17 december 2022 13:53]
