Got stuck in the middle seat for a 14 hour flight to Asia. Put the GearVR on and was transported into a full empty row to myself https://www.instagram.com/p/BDkY2oqzLZV/. It was truly incredible. The 2D in VR experiences (movies, games displayed on a giant flat screen) are way under appreciated.
This is one of the only practical uses for everyday non-techie people I've been able to come up with for these phone-based VR systems (like GearVR). It could also apply to college kids living in small dorms and such. I can't see my mom buying anything like this and strapping it to her head while sitting contently in a huge suburban house. Then again, I never thought I'd see her using an iPad, iPhone and messing with a SmartTV at the same time...
I agree with you. The difference with the iPad and a smart TV is that they are comparable to "normal" activities (like reading a book, and watching TV). The interaction with the items hasn't changed, just the way it is presented and the control of it (eg the TV remote has more buttons now).
With this, it is an entirely different scenario. You can no longer hear things (telephone, door bell, someone shouting for help). The iPad and smart TV do not stop interaction with other humans.
This does. It's about as attractive as being in a room full of people at a party and a moody teenager (not saying all are BTW) sitting resting their face on their fist with earphones in, staring at their phone. It's just not social.
I do not see this becoming mainstream, despite the excitement from the tech community (and those who enjoy isolating themselves, or perhaps us developers who are perfectly happy to sit in a room with others in silence, typing). We devs are normally seen as odd - admin staff at work say "the developers don't ever talk!!"; this will only exacerbate the problem. So, although some of us may enjoy sitting in a room with a device strapped to their face to the chagrin of those around us, I can't see it being socially acceptable.