Are you concerned with the future of virtual reality technology and the impact it will have on the future generations? (Christmas, weapon)

[Maximalist]

Back in the days, frustrated nerds would escape their life with making a character on World of Warcraft and base their social life on there. Back in the days smokers would smoke their stress away. Back in the days bored people would turn on Netflix. You get my point.

https://youtu.be/BGRY14znFxY

This video I found on YouTube made me realize how this technology could be abused in the future. If you watched the video or have used VR before, imagine how advance it could become in 2 more generations from now. I’m worried that a large percentage of the world will be addicted and be indoors for hours on end. Of course not an entire week like in the video experiment but there’s already addicted kids playing Fortnite for 8 hours so what makes you think the kids in 50 years from now won’t abuse VR.

The video did make a good point however with education being more widely available to the world.


The very last point i’d like to make, moderators this is the reason I posted this on the General US cities forum so please keep it here if possible. I find it kinda sad how traveling will be replaced with VR. Sure the viewer will be able to “walk around” a very detailed layout of famous cities and landmarks, however won’t that take away from the actually experience of exploring an urban environment and interacting with culture? I feel like the poor will travel less as this will be the most affordable alternative therefore resulting in many people living their entire lives not getting to know Earth let alone their own country. You already with YouTube, “Why travel to Europe when you could watch Rick Steve’s program” mentality.

In conclusion, I feel blessed and honor to be living in one of the last eras of real human interaction. You thought smart phones left a scary impact in today’s communication standards, just wait til every American has a VR set at home where they could have instant 6 pack abs, own a yacht, having all the virtual sex you want...etc. As a kid I was so looking to getting old and seeing the future. It took me til now watching this video to realize i am now in the future, and it’s mind blowing the endless possibilities you could do in this fake universe. Fellow City Data users, if you end up using this technology, please use it for useful purposes, don’t get sucked in, appreciate the outdoors and eye to eye human contact; it won’t be around much longer very soon.

[Texamichiforniasota]

No, not really concerned.

[TheTimidBlueBars]

I don't see VR getting that big. The number of truly important experiences it makes possible is pretty small - maybe it'll become the standard way of holding Skype conversations to pretend that everyone's in the same room. I think VR video games will ultimately be too dizzying and require too much swaying your body around and bumping into things to ever catch on.

If exploring cities via VR becomes widespread, though, is that bad? Maybe we won't need to travel physically as nuch if we have that option. I currently use Street View to check out cities and towns that it'd cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to fly to, but of course I still do travel sometimes since it's a more immersive and complete experience.

[Milky Way Resident]

I’m not so much afraid of tech itself, but of how people use it. When you see people crossing the road while being glued to their phone, then something has gone wrong. These aren’t isolated incidents BTW, but things I’ve observed happening on a daily basis.

[rstevens62]

It depends on what VR looks like in the future, if its a little 'too good' for the people, they will suppress and classify it, so no one can access it.

[Old Gringo]

Originally Posted by Maximalist

Are you concerned with the future of virtual reality technology and the impact it will have on the future generations?

I'm old.

Back in my youth, the old timers griped incessantly about how TV would ruin us youngsters. And they were all up in arms over rock n' roll, too.

VR causes me no concerns as I see my grandkids growing up. It's just the newest shiniest tech escape mechanism for those who are looking for some mental/visual recreation.

If you're truly looking for something to be concerned over, just consider the possibilities of weaponizing nanotechnology.

[AtkinsonDan]

I am not concerned about this at all. From an individualist viewpoint (which is all that matters as individuals are real while society is just a giant social construct) VR is the most efficient way to experience things and even explore the world.

Bring it on, the internet and offshoot technologies are far underutilized, IMHO.

[robertbrianbush]

One word. Porn.

[Nov3]

This past Christmas my Teen grandson Got VR head gear and some software.

All I can say is....There is a reason LSD had its place in the 60's....escapism.
This VR System actually messed with my senses. Not something I would invest in.

I'd worry if humans just vegetated to this source.

[turkeydance]

old movie: Brainstorm with Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood.
it was about "addicted" to real-life video experiences.