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Quick takeaways
- Spatial computing introduces a new level of trust, as crashing or freezing in immersive software can have a direct impact on the user's central nervous system, leading to discomfort or harm.
- Breath work techniques like Wim Hof breathing can help users improve focus and enhance productivity, making them more concentrated and effective in tackling cognitive tasks.
- SoftSpace's augmented reality app, SauceSpace, leverages innate human abilities in spatial reasoning and memory to help users comprehend and organize ideas, images, and projects more effectively.
- Spatial computing still faces challenges in meeting high user expectations and achieving a truly immersive and responsive experience, but advancements and investments are necessary to push it into mainstream adoption.
Deep dives
Spatial Computing and User Trust
Spatial computing introduces a new level of trust as users rely on developers to create immersive software that doesn't cause discomfort. Unlike traditional software, crashes or freezing in immersive software can have a direct impact on the user's central nervous system, leading to discomfort or harm.
Breath Work and Focus
Breath work techniques like Wim Hof breathing can effectively help users improve focus and quickly get in the zone. By engaging in intense breath work before work sessions, individuals can enhance their ability to concentrate on tasks and tackle tough cognitive problems. The invigorating effects of this practice help users become more focused and productive.
The Potential of Spatial Computing for Idea Organization
Spatial computing, particularly in the form of SoftSpace's augmented reality app, presents an innovative means of organizing and comprehending ideas, images, and other project-related elements. By leveraging innate human abilities in spatial reasoning and memory, SoftSpace's product, SauceSpace, helps users make sense of their creative, personal, or professional projects. This technology taps into the brain's extraordinary capacity to understand and manipulate objects in space, offering a more powerful alternative to traditional displays.
The Challenges and Opportunities in Spatial Computing
Spatial computing faces several challenges, including the need to meet high user expectations and the difficulty of achieving a truly immersive and responsive experience. While significant progress has been made, the technology is still not fully over the line of being a minimum viable product for general productivity use. Hardware platforms like Oculus Quest have made strides in balancing price and quality, but further advancements and investments are necessary to push spatial computing into mainstream adoption.
The Importance of Comfort in VR Devices
The comfort of VR devices is crucial for their success. Factors such as physical comfort, weight distribution, visual comfort, and social comfort play a significant role. The Oculus Quest has made significant advancements in comfort, including standalone capabilities and improved visuals. The pass-through feature, which utilizes external cameras, has also contributed to social comfort. Even though the current technology may not be perfect, alleviating discomfort is important for productivity, focus, and overall user experience.
Apple's Entry into the VR Space
Apple's recent announcement of their entry into the VR space with the Vision Pro headset has garnered attention. The hardware, while not radically different from existing platforms, focuses on high quality and visual acuity. Apple aims to provide a fully immersive and high-resolution experience, prioritizing 2D content and building on existing technologies. The software side of Apple's approach is seen as more radical, with a distinct direction towards doubling down on 2D content and working on a spatial computing framework. The impact of Apple's entry on user adoption and the market response remains to be seen.
Challenges and Considerations for VR Technology
The social aspects of using VR headsets pose challenges in terms of comfort and social acceptability. Wearing a headset can make users and others feel cut off from their surroundings. Apple's decision to include an outward-facing eye display on their headset is an attempt to address discomfort and enhance social comfort. However, the reactions of others are still uncertain. The future of VR technology should focus on using headsets in specific contexts and times, rather than wearing them constantly. Respecting social norms and understanding the discomfort associated with headsets is crucial. Furthermore, considerations around vision health, performance, and developing software experiences are necessary for the success of VR technology.
Is virtual reality useful for productivity software? Yiliu is the founder of Softspace, a VR/AR tool for thought. He joins Mark and Adam to discuss the human brain and body as inherently spatial systems; the question of whether information is fundamentally 2D; and why social comfort is the biggest challenge facing VR today. Plus: how to avoid a dystopian future.
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Show notes
- Yiliu Shen-Burke @softspaceninja
- Softspace
- Wim Hof breathing method
- Studio Olafur Eliasson
- The Brain Maps Out Ideas and Memories Like Spaces
- Oculus
- Oculus development kit
- heads-up display
- Scott Greenwald’s Media Lab thesis
- Beat Saber
- A Beautiful Mind
- Softspace demo
- force-directed graph
- Steven Johnson on DevonThink
- Google Glass, Magic Leap, Vision Pro
- Supernatural
- vergence
- history of VR
- PlaneVR: Social Acceptability of Virtual Reality for Aeroplane Passengers
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