[marknutter]

Mobile is not the future. We're in that future right now, and it's largely stabilized. I fully believe VR is the future. Anyone who's tried the Oculus and who has even an ounce of entrepreneurial imagination would agree. Just like when the iPhone came out in '07, the right convergence of technology has made it possible for truly convincing VR to make it into the mainstream. It will revolutionize gaming, commerce, socialization, productivity, and more. Those who understand this are already skating towards that puck. Everyone else is fighting over the few remaining scraps that the mobile table has to offer.

[InclinedPlane]

We haven't even hit the tip of the mobile iceberg. The evolution of mobile is like the evolution of the micro-computer. At first it was way behind the capabilities and sophistication of mini-computers. But it caught up, rapidly, and then passed by mini-computers, rapidly. The same thing is happening with mobile. The end-to-end user experience on mobile is generally superior to that of a PC, largely because mobile incorporates the lessons of decades of work in the PC/server space (one-click app installation/uninstallation, for example). Additionally, a big factor in the success of the micro-computer was cost and complexity of systems. Mini-computers took up racks of specialized equipment, micro-computers were based on a handful of mass produced components the most important of which was a CPU on a single chip. Mobile takes that even further, as such devices are generally just a screen, battery, and handful of chips on a single board, all mass produced.

Eventually mobile devices will be inexpensive, and this will help usher in the next wave of mobile adoption. Mobile devices will start making inroads in the workplace as they start to replace laptops and desktops (docking stations and keyboard "laptop" adapters will become more widespread). Mobile OSes will see forks which cater to corporate IT needs, etc. More importantly, mobile will be how most of the developing world gets online. Battery powered, wireless self-contained computing devices are almost a perfect fit for places without developed world infrastructure. Smartphones and tablets don't require constant internet connections to be useful. Imagine how valuable a tablet that can help teach people to read, indeed to learn almost anything, help people stay in touch with others, and connect people to the 21st century global economy can be for anyone. Computers are going to have a profound impact on the development of the world in the 21st century and mobile is going to be a huge part of it.

[megablast]

> Anyone who's tried the Oculus and who has even an ounce of entrepreneurial imagination would agree.

People have been saying exactly the same thing since the first VR came about. For some reason, VR really excited some people. Even though there is no way it is replacing a computer or a smartphone, since they have different uses.

Unless you are suggesting VR will improve writing emails or entering data into a spreadsheet?

[marknutter]

>Even though there is no way it is replacing a computer or a smartphone, since they have different uses.

Of course VR won't replace a smartphone or a computer. It's a completely different tool solving a completely different problem.

>Unless you are suggesting VR will improve writing emails or entering data into a spreadsheet?

Reminds me of the comments people first made about the iPhone when it came out; like "how are you supposed to type without a physical keyboard?" It's an inability to think creatively. VR isn't going to improve writing emails or entering data into a spreadsheet, those activities are already well served by laptops. Use your imagination. VR will help you buy your next car because you can actually sit and test drive hundreds before you try the real thing. VR will let you visit other countries before you plan an expensive vacation. VR will let you connect with your friends across the world in ways you simply cannot do today. VR will let you walk around in your custom built home before a single nail is driven.

> People have been saying exactly the same thing since the first VR came about.

So the value is obvious, then. It's just that the technology hasn't been there to make it viable. People were talking up handheld devices for years as well, but it wasn't until it became technologically feasible to create a user friendly experience that it finally exploded in popularity.

[dingaling]

>Reminds me of the comments people first made about the iPhone when it came out; like "how are you supposed to type without a physical keyboard?"

I don't know if that was a common conception at the time; after all touch-screen kiosks have been common since the 1990s. And Palm had discarded physical keyboards in their PDAs as far back as 1996.

More it was a case of 'typing will be much less efficient without a keyboard', which was true and has only been addressed by lateral thinking such as Swype[0], an analogue of which Apple have finally implemented after five generations.

[0] or, as I've just been reminded, Graffiti on the Palm PDAs

[sharemywin]

why could I have a spreadsheet that spans the entire room in VR? or ten screens? or a more efficient interface I or anyone else hasn't thought of. I click a button on my screen in VR and now their are 2. a keyboard with auto correct underneath my monitors. a kinect with a VR system could really transform productivity.