Need vs. Want: Practical Value of AR/VR

Recorded while actually wearing Apple Vision Pro headsets, Sean and Andrew go hands‑on with spatial computing to test what it’s good for today—and what it might become tomorrow. They compare “spatial” to VR and AR, unpack why Apple avoids the term “VR,” and explain pass‑through, eye/hand‑based interaction, and foveated rendering in plain English. The conversation moves from everyday use (multi‑monitor work setups, traveling with AVP, watching films and immersive video, viewing panoramas as if you’re back on location) to the human side: motion‑sickness thresholds, accessibility benefits, social norms and privacy (Ray‑Ban/Meta, the legacy of Google Glass), and whether head‑mounted tech solves real problems or just sells new ones. They reflect on hardware realities (comfort, straps, weight), chip refreshes and what they reveal about system bottlenecks, and why a stratified ecosystem (audio AR via earbuds, lightweight glasses, full “nerd helmets”) is more likely than “one device to rule them all.” The pair also imagine shared, synchronized spaces—identical tables/cafés worldwide—where remote collaborators feel truly co‑present, and close with a call for developers and AVP aficionados to experiment with Modem Futura’s spatial back‑catalog.

Modem Futura in Spatial Video - [web]

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Modem Futura is a production of the Future of Being Human initiative at Arizona State University. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. To learn more about the Future of Being Human initiative and all of our other projects visit - https://futureofbeinghuman.asu.edu

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Host Bios:

Sean M. Leahy, PhD - ASU Bio
Sean is an an internationally recognized technologist, futurist, and educator innovating humanistic approaches to emerging technology through a Futures Studies approach. He is a Foresight Catalyst for the Future of Being Human Initiative and Research Scientist for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and Senior Global Futures Scholar with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.

Andrew Maynard, PhD - ASU Bio
Andrew is a scientist, author, thought leader, and Professor of Advanced Technology Transitions in the ASU School for the Future of Innovation in Society. He is the founder of the ASU Future of Being Human initiative, Director of the ASU Risk Innovation Nexus, and was previously Associate Dean in the ASU College of Global Futures.

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