POSITIVE VIBES: The positive vibes of virtual reality | opinion

First, we have the anti-VR ads showing that VR is only for nerds. There’s the one commercial where the nerd bundles his insurance in the meta-verse. You cannot do this and there is no need to do so.

What really annoys me is the car commercial (I think it’s BMW) where this guy is playing a VR game with his buddy. He takes off his VR set and says to his buddy, “Man, you have to see that.” The buddy puts on the VR headset and the first guy’s girlfriend walks in the room and gives him a come-here look. The voiceover says something like, “Drive our fancy car because that’s where all the real action happens!” The guy gets up, leaves his friend behind and drives off, apparently having a wonderful time relaxing in the water and so much fun.

This commercial doesn’t realize a few things: it’s rude to leave your boyfriend without telling him, gas prices are crazy, and buying a new car is bloody expensive. Also, this isn’t an either-or, the lady, or the tiger type of choice. You can do both.

Then there’s Meta’s pro-VR advertising, which we know better as Facebook. Meta bought the VR tech that used to be (and I still call it) Oculus. According to Meta’s new ads, we’ll all be able to meet and greet and compete against each other in this huge meta-verse where you don’t have to go there to be there. I’m not sure if that’s their motto, but it should be.

The point is that Meta and Zuckerberg envisioned this near future where everyone who is anything would come together in the meta-verse and make “things.” Your avatar will interact with everyone else’s avatar, and it will be almost as if you are there.

I have some issues with this. First, existing technology is far from ready to simulate real human interaction. There is no good smell or taste of VR yet. And touch is very limited. Also, there are the obvious social problems of people who need real contact with real people.

The sci-fi writer in me sees a future role for the meta-verse, but I see it more as a communication/play tool than a paradigm shift.

For example, VR is pretty good for doing 20-200 minutes of cardio workouts. You can box with an avatar without risking a concussion. You still can’t lift weights or do traditional strength training, but VR games like Beat Saber (move and cut to music) make exercising fun while getting your heart rate up.

With VR, watching certain sports like basketball makes you feel like you’re lying on the floor next to the players, which is quite a thrill. The technology is still limited, but it has great potential.

VR can also be used for social interactions as you and hundreds of people can gather to watch a movie. I find this distracting, but I can see how it might be helpful for certain people.

In the worst case, VR has helped people overcome (or learn to deal with) their fears. VR can simulate altitude and driving situations and other situations that people might have trouble with. Cows produce more milk when wearing relaxing VR headsets. VR can be used for relaxation and meditation in humans as it helps your mind find its happy place where you can slow your breath and just relax.

Honestly, we could all benefit from breathing and relaxing a little more.