Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!emory!ogicse!milton!arc!steve@apple.com From: arc!steve@apple.com (Steve Savitzky) Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds Subject: Re: Consumer Markets for VR Message-ID: <12741@milton.u.washington.edu> Date: 10 Dec 90 19:30:04 GMT References: <12617@milton.u.washington.edu> Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu Organization: Advansoft Research Corp, Santa Clara, CA Lines: 40 Approved: cyberoid@milton.u.washington.edu In article <12617@milton.u.washington.edu> frerichs@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (David J Fr erichs) writes: Other than interactive gaming, does anyone see any motivation for a consumer (ie layman who doesn't know much) to buy a consumer priced VR setup when one becomes available. There are forms of entertainment that are not specifically "gaming", i.e. VR "movies", tourism (the exploration of a virtual universe, whether a simulation of some real place or a fantasy), etc. Leaving all these variations aside, there are many "useful" things that could be done at home: o CAD, especially architecture. Even a low-resolution system would be sufficient for exploring alternative designs for houses, kitchen remodeling, and so on. o House shopping. Why get into a car to go house shopping when most places can be eliminated with a quick walk-through from home. o Shopping in general. Product demonstrations, the "virtual supermarket", and so on. Especially good when shopping for clothes. o Educational simulations. o Virtual travel. Travel to anyplace on the globe (or anyplace in the solar system). Especially good if one can go to museums in far-off places and see what's on the walls. o VR conferencing. Family get-togethers, discussion groups, clubs, costume parties, and so on. I suspect that many people would enjoy getting together with others in "virtual places." (The effect of VR on science fiction conventions can only be imagined.) -- \ --Steve Savitzky-- \ ADVANsoft Research Corp \ REAL hackers use an AXE! \ \ steve@advansoft.COM \ 4301 Great America Pkwy \ #include \ \ arc!steve@apple.COM \ Santa Clara, CA 95954 \ 408-727-3357 \ \__ steve@arc.UUCP _________________________________________________________