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a16z Podcast | The Present State and Future Possibility of Virtual Reality
39 segments available
Our virtual reality-enabled future is arriving, but it’s hard to know -- as it is with every new technology platform -- how quickly we’ll all make the transition to VR and what it will ultimately look like. For example, beyond gaming and entertainment what applications does it seem like VR is best suited for, and will we all be wearing full VR-enabled body suits some day? When will the Matrix become real? a16z’s virtual reality-obsessed Kyle Russell and Sakunthala Pandit are joined by perceptual and computational neuroscience expert Beau Cronin, to offer their informed opinions on the present state and future of VR. They give the rationale for travel, shopping, and education getting the VR treatment, and why software developers would kill for a VR-enabled dev environment. So strap your “face toy” on and dive into virtual reality.
Segments Timeline
Introducing the VR Experts
In this segment, Kyle Russell introduces the podcast and the guests, Sakunthala Pandit and Beau Cronin, who bring their expertise in virtual reality. They discuss their backgrounds and what excites them about the potential of VR technology, setting the stage for a deep dive into the current state and future possibilities of virtual reality.
"hi this is the a 16z podcast on Kyle Russel a deal partner here at the firm looking at virtual reality and augmented reality among a few other things I'm joined today by two people who know a lot abou..."
The Evolution of VR Technology
Sakunthala Pandit shares insights on the evolution of VR technology, highlighting the affordability and usability of VR headsets. He discusses the success of the Oculus Kickstarter and the progression from DK1 to DK2, emphasizing the importance of presence in VR experiences and how each iteration has proven the technology's potential.
"about you know kind of where VR is at and you know what aspects of it I think or maybe under considered by people who just kind of look at it as a raw set of technologies of things that track motion a..."
Understanding Presence in VR
The conversation shifts to the concept of 'presence' in virtual reality, where users feel as if they are truly in the VR environment. The hosts explain how DK1 and DK2 contributed to this feeling, with DK2 introducing positional tracking that enhances the immersive experience, allowing users to interact with their surroundings more naturally.
"this tag so dk1 basically is screen with motion sensors that you strap to your face and I gave you know something that felt like presence then with dk2 they took that same kind of core concept and add..."
The Gear VR Experience
The discussion turns to the Gear VR, a more accessible VR option for consumers. The hosts analyze its limitations, particularly the lack of positional tracking, and how it affects user experience. They highlight the importance of motion parallax and how the Gear VR compensates for its shortcomings by offering engaging content that feels immersive despite its constraints.
"one but many people who have was the first time that they went oh my gosh you can do really high-quality tracking you know didn't have positional tracking but you can do really high quality low latenc..."
Future of VR: Beyond Gear VR
As the conversation progresses, the hosts explore the future of VR technology, comparing the Gear VR to upcoming systems like Oculus CV1 and HTC Vive. They discuss the significance of hand tracking and natural interaction in VR, emphasizing how these advancements will open new avenues for gaming and productivity applications.
"actually lean around and look at something from different angles and it was like you were that's what kind of what gave the I'm here feeling of I see this like really cool out I would say you know the..."
Designing for VR: Challenges and Opportunities
The segment delves into the design challenges and opportunities in VR development. The hosts discuss the balance between realistic and abstract design, and how the evolution of VR interfaces will shape user experiences. They draw parallels to the history of film and mobile technology, suggesting that VR design will similarly take time to mature.
"yesmy know exactly so but when I played with the gear VR I did notice that so many of the other aspects and improved the resolution to the point where I could see pixels but it wasn't particularly dis..."
The Future of Interaction in VR
In this segment, the hosts speculate on the future of interaction in VR, considering how advancements in technology will influence user interfaces. They discuss the potential for gloves and hand controllers to enhance immersion and the implications for software development in various applications, from gaming to productivity.
"and being able to use for both of those systems and addition also the the Sony system that's coming up as well your hands in a very natural way without really having to think about it and have one-to-..."
The Evolution of VR Design
In this segment, the discussion revolves around the current state of VR design, focusing on the differences between mobile-based headsets and more advanced controllers. The speakers explore how natural interactions in VR are achieved through haptic feedback and the challenges designers face in creating intuitive interfaces that balance realism and abstraction.
"in terms of these two mobile based headsets where you're plugging in your phone you know they don't have positional tracking but you know they can render a 3d world with crazy high frame rates and it ..."
Learning from Film: VR's Design Journey
The conversation draws parallels between the evolution of VR design and the history of film, highlighting how it took decades for film editing techniques to develop. The speakers emphasize that VR design will similarly take time to mature, as designers explore new interaction paradigms and conventions that will define the medium.
"you know yeah absolutely so I'm not a designer but I am following closely a number of very very smart designers who are trying to figure out exactly these questions what does interaction look like wha..."
The Challenge of Diverse VR Systems
This segment discusses the challenges faced by VR designers due to the variety of hardware systems available, such as Oculus and HTC Vive. The speakers highlight the importance of understanding these differences to create effective VR applications and how the evolution of software will influence hardware development.
"it's worth remembering that these things take a long time to develop like with film you know it took like 30 years before the jump cut was invented so that's like you know you're cutting from you know..."
Mobile vs. Tethered VR: The Future Debate
The speakers debate the future of VR, discussing whether mobile systems will dominate or if tethered desktop versions will remain relevant. They explore the potential for mobile VR to evolve into powerful standalone devices, while also considering the current market's needs and preferences.
"designers who are trying to explore the space and figure out you know what are the equivalents in VR I mean one of the challenges that they face is that the major systems that are coming out aren't ex..."
Gaming as a Gateway for VR Adoption
In this segment, the speakers discuss how gaming and entertainment serve as the initial driving force for VR technology adoption. They explore the importance of understanding broader market interests and how feedback loops will shape the future applications of VR beyond gaming.
"console or a gaming PC but as these things evolve its you can see how it could evolve to be the phone still slots into a headset but then when you're at home you plug then that set into something with..."
The Social Dimension of VR Experiences
The conversation shifts to the social aspects of VR, emphasizing the potential for shared experiences in virtual environments. The speakers discuss the importance of social interaction in VR applications and how it can enhance the overall user experience, making it more engaging and less isolating.
"version I think one other related point I would I would make is right now these systems and these hardware platforms are all coming out and it's wonderful that we have gaming and entertainment as sort..."
Redefining Presence in Virtual Reality
This segment explores the concept of presence in VR, discussing how even basic representations of people can create a sense of being together. The speakers highlight the neuroscience behind this phenomenon and how it can lead to more immersive social interactions in virtual spaces.
"have to ask like how is like like our thesis is that VR is not just gonna be for gaming it's going to be it's a you know it's like the next platform I think this is what we believe the oculus as well ..."
Capturing Everyday Moments in VR
The speakers discuss the potential for VR to capture not just major events but also everyday moments, emphasizing the importance of mundane experiences in social interactions. They envision a future where people can connect in VR for casual activities, enhancing their social lives.
"that oculus just released their their social alpha right which is the ability to go in and watch watch a movie or video in a fake movie theater with other people who can be from anywhere around the wo..."
The Future of Shared Entertainment in VR
In this segment, the speakers reflect on the future of shared entertainment experiences in VR, using examples like watching sports games together. They discuss the need for technology to evolve to facilitate these interactions, making VR a more communal experience.
"core and fundamental capability that is going to be built into everything and you know we don't even really even know how powerful it's gonna be but it's it's absolutely essential I think a lot of peo..."
The Isolation Paradox of VR
The conversation addresses the paradox of VR experiences being both compelling and isolating. The speakers share personal anecdotes about engaging VR experiences and the challenge of sharing those moments with others, highlighting the need for advancements in social VR technology.
"hand when you break down what's necessary to have a good poker experience it's pretty non-trivial there are a lot of things you have to be able to get right that just aren't available today one thing ..."
Neuroscience Insights on VR Interaction
This segment delves into the neuroscience concept of 'filling in' and its relevance to VR. The speakers explain how the brain can create a sense of presence and completeness in virtual environments, even with minimal cues, and discuss its implications for future VR design.
"of things I've seen in VR this was the future and I want to be able to pay money to do this on a regular basis but I was at that game alone right and there's no way for me now I mean my wife was you k..."
Neuroscience of Presence in VR
The conversation shifts to the neuroscience concept of 'filling in,' where the brain compensates for incomplete sensory information in VR. The speaker explains how even crude representations can create a feeling of presence, emphasizing the need for consistent sensory cues to enhance the immersive experience.
"anyone who's tried the oculus toy box demo can probably relate to that in that seeing a floating head and hands with no emotions whatsoever no textures to convey gender or race or anything like that y..."
Creating Rich Multi-Sensory Experiences
This segment explores how low-fidelity cues in VR can still lead to rich, immersive experiences. The speaker discusses the potential for VR to trick the brain into feeling presence through visual and auditory stimuli, and the ongoing experimentation to find the minimal cues necessary for effective immersion.
"but you know one example that people will often cite in VR is that if you get a certain amount of for example visual cues right then even very incomplete or crude haptic cues will feel very complete b..."
The Future of VR in Social Settings
The discussion turns to the social implications of VR technology, including the potential for full-body suits and haptic feedback. The speaker raises questions about social acceptance of VR in public and private spaces, drawing parallels to past technologies like Google Glass and the evolving perceptions of immersive experiences.
"new level of presence toybox is one great example of that and and there are a number of others that people are discovering that's one who thinks about kind of the public perception of VR though I will..."
VR's Role in Education
The segment highlights the transformative potential of VR in education, particularly for visual and experiential learning. The speaker discusses how VR can enhance understanding of historical events and complex concepts, making learning more engaging and effective for students.
"going to evolve right yeah some people are saying that the whole football ec thing might be like a you know a comeback for the arcade so maybe not everyone will you know buy the like camera kit and bo..."
Immersive Learning Experiences
Continuing the education theme, the speaker shares examples of VR applications in teaching history and science. They emphasize the importance of creating immersive experiences that allow students to engage with content in a meaningful way, such as experiencing historical events firsthand.
"in a very meaningful way the virtual reality works better when it's tricking your brain along its various senses you know you're seeing things that look realistic you're hearing things that make you f..."
Translating Abstract Concepts into VR
This segment discusses the challenge of teaching abstract concepts through VR. The speaker expresses interest in how VR can help visualize complex ideas, such as distributed systems in computer science, making them more accessible and understandable for learners.
"what what does that mean yeah well that the obvious first application for VR and education is things like you know flight simulators learning to drive things which have like a very visceral like physi..."
Engaging with Science through VR
The conversation focuses on using VR to teach science, particularly biology. The speaker highlights the effectiveness of immersive experiences in helping students grasp complex scientific processes, such as cell division, compared to traditional learning methods.
"studios that are that are doing this so the one experience that my three-year-old daughter has watched more than any other is this Apollo 11 experience which if you haven't seen it super awesome they'..."
Gamifying Learning with VR
The segment explores the potential of gamification in education through VR. The speaker references examples like Kerbal Space Program, illustrating how interactive experiences can enhance learning and retention of scientific concepts in a fun and engaging way.
"that but I bet when I do see it I'm gonna understand those concepts much better than if I read about them and maybe even better than if I implemented them you know maybe maybe not I'm not sure but I t..."
The Future of VR Development Environments
In this segment, the speaker discusses the need for VR development environments that allow developers to create within VR. They highlight the challenges faced by developers in the current landscape and the potential for innovation in VR tools and office environments.
"still captures that and there's a few areas you know you brought up science education like that looking at cells splitting which do students engage with more a piece of paper you know printed on an 8 ..."
Rethinking Video Conferencing with VR
The conversation concludes with a critique of traditional video conferencing and the potential for VR to revolutionize remote communication. The speaker emphasizes the drawbacks of current video conferencing tools and the need for more immersive, engaging alternatives.
"there are development environments of other of other types you know what will an office environment within VR look like how will that work that that's clearly a big area we know we need a lot of innov..."
Telepresence and Personal Communication
Discussing the potential of VR in personal communication, this segment examines how VR could enhance interactions between friends and family, especially for those who are far apart. The conversation touches on avatar customization and the challenges of achieving widespread adoption of VR for personal use.
"see instances of that not quite through implemented through VR but we use being robots where you know it's the head on a tablet driven around by wheels and you can actually yeah it's you're engaged wi..."
Impact of VR on Travel and Lifestyle
This segment speculates on the broader implications of VR on travel and lifestyle choices. It discusses how effective telepresence could reduce the need for physical travel, potentially reshaping real estate dynamics and commuting patterns in the future.
"just you know what kind of avatars will people have do you just go with the untextured blank face of toy box do you try to scan people's faces in do you let them create their own avatars like a video ..."
VR's Role in Fashion and E-commerce
Explore how VR could revolutionize the fashion industry by allowing consumers to try on clothes virtually. This segment discusses the challenges of online shopping and how VR might bridge the gap between digital and physical retail experiences, enhancing consumer confidence in purchases.
"about exactly how it's all going to knit out just so that we kind of covered the spectrum of what you know the Nerds are will really appreciate you are VR enabled future and what people in the real wo..."
Virtual Reality in Home Design
This segment highlights the potential of VR in home design and architecture, allowing users to visualize and furnish spaces before making purchases. The discussion emphasizes the benefits of virtual walkthroughs and the ability to experiment with interior design in a risk-free environment.
"final push right so if you look at the argument for the continuing relevance of you know brick-and-mortar retail you know 10 15 20 years from now it's that there are certain physical experiences that ..."
The Future of Virtual Tourism
Discussing the concept of virtual tourism, this segment explores how VR can simulate travel experiences, allowing users to visit iconic locations without the associated costs. The conversation highlights the technology's potential to democratize access to cultural experiences and landmarks.
"very exciting I still have a set of closet doors sitting in my garage that are probably never gonna leave my garage because they didn't turn out to be the right ones and I you know just couldn't know ..."
The Future of Virtual Tourism
The conversation shifts to the concept of virtual tourism, where VR technology can simulate travel experiences. The speakers discuss how VR can provide immersive experiences of locations like Monument Valley, allowing users to explore environments without the need for physical travel. This segment emphasizes the potential of VR to make travel accessible and affordable.
"a huge boost from something like this if you used the dk2 and gone on oculus share or if you now have the new gear VR and goes you know check out the experiences section of the oculus store one of the..."
Capturing Reality: 360 Video vs. Light Fields
This segment delves into the technical aspects of capturing immersive experiences using 360-degree video and light field technology. The speakers explain how these technologies differ in capturing environments and the viewer's experience. They highlight the advantages and challenges of each method, providing insights into how they can enhance virtual reality experiences.
"founders went on a trip to like Monument Valley in Utah and he oh my god this is so amazing I wouldn't look at it anytime I want and so after that they made this 360 camera recording break so what it ..."
The Challenges of Light Field Technology
The discussion continues with the complexities of light field technology, including the extensive computational requirements for capturing and rendering scenes. The speakers address the potential downsides of light fields, such as the time-consuming capture process, while also noting the exciting possibilities for future applications in VR.
"maybe to differentiate in practical terms what those technologies provide in terms of ease of capturing content and then what the experience will actually be like for the viewer so with 360 degree vid..."
Blending Traditional and VR Techniques
In this segment, the speakers explore the integration of traditional 3D modeling and rendering techniques with new VR technologies. They discuss how filmmakers and game developers can combine light fields with conventional methods to create more immersive experiences, highlighting the innovative potential of blending these approaches.
"so and one way of thinking about that is in when Litro Lytro when they recently announced their they're like field capture system yeah they announced a camera but alongside it as part of the system is..."
The Promise of VR for Global Experiences
The conversation shifts to the broader implications of VR technology in providing access to experiences that are otherwise limited by geography or cost. The speakers discuss how VR can democratize experiences like attending live events, making them available to a wider audience and transforming the way people engage with the world.
"blend together you're capturing light fields but then you do some rough computation on it to build you know a underlying 3d model and then you slap the light field on top of it as a texture essentiall..."
The Long-Term Vision for VR
In the concluding segment, the speakers reflect on the long-term potential of VR technology. They discuss the gradual transition to VR experiences and the importance of quality in virtual environments. The conversation emphasizes the exciting future of VR in enhancing accessibility to experiences that were previously limited to a select few.
"I think it's it's worth pointing out that this is an area where the quality of the experience matters a ton and so I think you know there's the great pulse fo line which is never mistake a clear view ..."