A stunning new perspective on work
Imagine working in a room orbiting Earth, with views of continents spinning below. Using Meta’s Quest 3, I created such environments for a week of virtual reality (VR) immersion. To my surprise, VR has become a practical tool, especially for work. Multi-screen setups, customizable environments, and the ability to see real-world objects like keyboards through “passthrough” technology made productivity seamless and enjoyable. For solo work, VR may even surpass traditional office setups.
VR challenges: unfinished but functional
Despite its advancements, VR still has drawbacks. The Quest 3 feels slightly heavy, like a prototype in need of refinement. Battery life remains insufficient for a full day, and technical glitches, such as disconnected controllers, persist. These hiccups occasionally disrupted an otherwise transformative experience.
Cinema redefined: an in-flight revelation
Watching movies in VR was extraordinary. During a flight, I transformed my cramped seat into a private cinema with a giant screen. Immersed in this virtual theater, I almost forgot I was flying. While wearing a VR headset in public still feels awkward, the in-flight experience was so captivating it’s hard to imagine returning to traditional screens.
Social VR remains underwhelming
VR’s promise of social interaction, à la Ready Player One, is far from reality. Apps designed for concerts or socializing often felt like ghost towns. For now, VR thrives as a solo experience, and its widespread adoption as a communal platform may take years to achieve.
Exercise reinvented
VR fitness offers a fresh approach to exercise. With the addition of passthrough technology, I worked out in my garden alongside a virtual trainer. Using real-world weights in a virtual environment felt seamless, offering a promising alternative to traditional gym memberships.
A new frontier for productivity
For knowledge workers, VR can declutter the mind and enhance focus. Whether writing music in a virtual forest or tackling tasks in a sleek, modern workspace, VR allows for tailored environments that boost creativity and productivity.
Apple’s Vision Pro: a step forward, but not the game-changer
While Apple’s Vision Pro headset showcases engineering brilliance, its limited app library and prohibitive price make it inaccessible for most users. For now, more affordable options like the Quest 3 provide a practical entry point into VR.
The tipping point for VR
The key to VR’s success lies in embracing it as a single-player tool for work, entertainment, and exercise. Though not yet perfect, VR has moved beyond mere hype to become genuinely useful. As technology evolves, the era of small, rectangular screens may soon give way to a new way of engaging with machines.
Ed Newton-Rex is the founder of Fairly Trained, a nonprofit certifying generative AI companies that respect creators’ rights, and a visiting scholar at Stanford University.
