I've just cancelled DK2 and will now patiently wait for the consumer version. I just hope it lives up to everyone's expectations now this major **** has hit the fan.
Hardware & Technical Facebook buys OculusVR
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http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/30/5563440/john-carmack-facebook-oculus-rift-purchase-comments
John Carmack breaks silence on Facebook's Oculus acquisition
Why Facebook? "I could think of other companies that would have more obvious synergies. However, I do have reasons to believe that they get the big picture as I see it, and will be a powerful force towards making it happen. You don't make a commitment like they just did on the whim." Much of the backlash regarding the acquisition has centered on Facebook's business model — data mining and advertising. This isn't a concern for Carmack, who says he "just can't get very worked up about it ." While he appreciates the need for privacy, "the idea that companies are supposed to interact with you and not pay attention has never seemed sane to me ... I rather like the recommendations that Amazon gives me on each visit. Educate me. What terrible outcome is expected from this?"
John Carmack breaks silence on Facebook's Oculus acquisition
Why Facebook? "I could think of other companies that would have more obvious synergies. However, I do have reasons to believe that they get the big picture as I see it, and will be a powerful force towards making it happen. You don't make a commitment like they just did on the whim." Much of the backlash regarding the acquisition has centered on Facebook's business model — data mining and advertising. This isn't a concern for Carmack, who says he "just can't get very worked up about it ." While he appreciates the need for privacy, "the idea that companies are supposed to interact with you and not pay attention has never seemed sane to me ... I rather like the recommendations that Amazon gives me on each visit. Educate me. What terrible outcome is expected from this?"
Information is power. One doesn't have to look very far for examples where concentrated knowledge proved to be disastrous. Take the tribal affiliation of Tutsis vs. Hutus for example. In 1933, the Belgians in Rwanda decreed a law that mandated every citizen to carry an identity card containing his tribal affiliation (Hutu, Tutsi, Twa). This information laid the groundwork for the death lists in the eventual Genocide in 1994.
Your amazon recommendation list may not be as problematic, but your facebook graph may end up labeling you as belonging to a certain religious movement, or a certain sexual persuasion, or some other group that ends up being blamed as a scapegoat for something in the future. It's basically the first step of Genocide: Classification. Not every classification leads to genocide of course. But there is always a risk.
Imagine for a moment: A new deadly plague appears. In the wake of many deaths a radical movement gains a lot of followers, pointing out (whether true or not) that homosexuals are preferred carriers and responsible for the spreading of the disease. Suddenly, being gay isn't so hip or socially accepted anymore. In such a scenario, the last thing you want is a big database that helps finding "gays in hiding". And in such a scenario, that rubber toy you bought on amazon may well be a recommendation that can be fatal.
Is all this likely? No. Thankfully, it's very unlikely. But I pity the fool who thinks this to be impossible. It doesn't mean you have to stop shopping at Amazon. But when people are being investigated as suspicious because they have no facebook profile... there certainly is a line to be drawn.
As for Carmack: Just because you're a smart programmer doesn't mean you can fully understand the social implications and predict possible ramnifications of technology. I think his statement proved this right there. I love his talks and works about 3d engines and graphics and whatnot, but for privacy issues, I'm taking the advice of Bruce Schneier over his any day.
So maybe taking a few basic precautions and at least somewhat limit the amount of data collected about you might not be a bad idea.
As someone once said in such a succinct way: "The mass graves of the world are filled with people who had nothing to hide"
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That's not what the article says. It's a puff piece written by someone who had nothing better to do that day... Trying to associate serial killers and murderers with "lack of use of Facebook"... which is patently rubbish. It does not say, however, that people were being investigated... It was a post event association.
I agree you should consider what you share but to worry about future plagues and zombie apocalypses and whether you will be culled just isn't worth the mental effort. It's not just unlikely it's outrageously improbable. You may as well spend the rest of your life reinforcing your roof, or living underground in case you get hit by an meteorite.... It's far more likely.
Yes there are legitimate privacy concerns with online corporations, but a bit of perspective please!
Agreed. This is probably a better one, about the dangers of data mining and what it means to those who have "nothing to hide".
Facebook bought the wrong company
Okaaayyy.
Trying to bring things back on track a little.
I must admit to not having that much interest in the whole VR/AR thing until recently but this has piqued my attention a bit so here goes.
If I upset people, sorry - it's just my opinion and I know nothing but I have no flag to wave.
Oculus Rift
It's a gaming device. That is all. I just can't see it going mainstream. It looks like it would be good for what it does but out in the real world, don't see it.
Not quite sure why Facebook have bought it, maybe MZ got over-excited or maybe this is not the end-game and there is more to come...
Sony Morpheus
Same as the OR and probably forced their hand in running to FB for $$$
CastAR
This seems to be a much better fit to Facebook and I can see being much more successful than the OR. Very early days for them still and probably why the sharks have not moved in yet but potential market much bigger and at a better price point.
May see FB move here in the future if their strategy is to pick up a suite in this space.
Avegant Glyph
This I see as more of an Apple acquisition. Heavily media massed and all about clarity of image. Once again early days but interesting stuff.
There are probably more players out there but these are the ones that have I have seen mentioned.
Okaaayyy.
Trying to bring things back on track a little.
I must admit to not having that much interest in the whole VR/AR thing until recently but this has piqued my attention a bit so here goes.
If I upset people, sorry - it's just my opinion and I know nothing but I have no flag to wave.
Oculus Rift
It's a gaming device. That is all. I just can't see it going mainstream. It looks like it would be good for what it does but out in the real world, don't see it.
Not quite sure why Facebook have bought it, maybe MZ got over-excited or maybe this is not the end-game and there is more to come...
Sony Morpheus
Same as the OR and probably forced their hand in running to FB for $$$
CastAR
This seems to be a much better fit to Facebook and I can see being much more successful than the OR. Very early days for them still and probably why the sharks have not moved in yet but potential market much bigger and at a better price point.
May see FB move here in the future if their strategy is to pick up a suite in this space.
Avegant Glyph
This I see as more of an Apple acquisition. Heavily media massed and all about clarity of image. Once again early days but interesting stuff.
There are probably more players out there but these are the ones that have I have seen mentioned.
<grins> Which brought this article to mind.
Driving a car is far riskier. You have a warped sense of the dangers of the world if Facebook is high on your list of concerns.
Interesting. I actually had a recruiter reject a job candidate for similar reasons about a year ago.
You are mixing fantasy with fact here. The fact is, we did have organized "cullings" before. To ignore that and call even the most basic of precautions unnecessary seems a bit one sided to me.
And again, it's very unlikely that the ilk of FB are going to be the enabler of the next pogrom. But, isn't the participation something you should have a say in? Could we not agree that there should be opt-in for any such service, not slowly shifting to opt-out? We've seen this kind of information being misused and get people into trouble before, so should this not be something one should at least consider when using such services?
True. Now please quit your fire insurance because you are also less likely to have your house burn down. Since when does the existence of a more likely danger invalidate even basic awareness of less-likely issues?
Also, sorry if this went too far off topic. I do have an on topic question though:
Did anyone of you cancel their DK2 preorder? I'm really just curious, and no I did not cancel myself and never considered to.
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Sure, one could consider all the context of history if one wants to go down that sweet rabbit hole. Spain 1936, Franco regime used the information that had been collected on people via trustworthy systems.
I know very well of the dangers associated with a database collecting information on people. I've made my choice, to maximize my social connectivity with people, and not to live in fear.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill
I know very well of the dangers associated with a database collecting information on people. I've made my choice, to maximize my social connectivity with people, and not to live in fear.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose freewill
![[VR] Mad Mike](https://forums-cdn.zaonce.net/data/avatars/m/27/27910.jpg?1553527108){kind=avatar}
I considered it, not for the reasons most are complaining about here however.
My thoughts were, before FB I was fairly convinced that with a finite budget it would realistically have been 12 months after DK2 release before CV1 was readily available.
After FB however I did consider cancelling my DK2, but only becasue CV1 may come much faster with the extra dev money and buying power.
Indeed, you may have seen my other posts, my order was accidentally cancelled after I asked a few questions. It was at that point I realised, I am done waiting, I want VR asap and it took me all my restraint not to get a DK1.... so no, No chance am I cancelling (and Oculus have promised to hold my place in the queue and reinstate my order)
Same as you guys. I considered canceling DK2 and waiting for CV1 but my naughty impatient gene kicked in and refused to hit the big red button.
As Jabokai said the DK2 will probably have a decent resale value later on. However if the worst happens and CV1 ends up like some are expecting the DK2 might be the one to keep hold of.
As Jabokai said the DK2 will probably have a decent resale value later on. However if the worst happens and CV1 ends up like some are expecting the DK2 might be the one to keep hold of.
the biggest improvement - other than aesthetics - is probably going to be the resolution anyhow.
Now my PC is ok, but it isnt all singing all dancing, so, chances are I would have to lower the resolution to DK2 1080p anyway, even if the screen was 1440p.
Sure the screen door effect may be worse on the DK2, but given I wont be able to take advantage of the CV1's biggest strength for a while, that is another reason why I thought stuff it!.
On top of that, the money saved by NOT going to alpha, and the £100 the bank just gave me for opening an account with them, means in a way, the DK2 was almost free
So why is it so important to you? What will this gadget give you that you psychologically long for so much and will it provide that for you?
the biggest improvement - other than aesthetics - is probably going to be the resolution anyhow.
Now my PC is ok, but it isnt all singing all dancing, so, chances are I would have to lower the resolution to DK2 1080p anyway, even if the screen was 1440p.
Sure the screen door effect may be worse on the DK2, but given I wont be able to take advantage of the CV1's biggest strength for a while, that is another reason why I thought stuff it!.
On top of that, the money saved by NOT going to alpha, and the £100 the bank just gave me for opening an account with them, means in a way, the DK2 was almost free
I completely agree with you Mike. The DK2 will be good enough until the price for a system that copes with CV1 drops a bit.
I know the question wasn't directed at me but, my answer is that it will make gaming better. The reason why its important to me is because I enjoy gaming. I can't answer whether it will give me the more enjoyable gaming experience I psychologically long for, but I do know that a few years ago I bought a bigger telly to improve my gaming experience. You might not deem it a compete success as I'm now looking for a headset as well, but that option wasn't open when I bought it, and I'm satisfied that I had my money's worth out of it. I'd think that I could repeat that trick of "buying something and feeling happy about it" with this headset as well.
Strange wording of question.... psychologically long for is probably a bit Ott even for me
In some games the main reason for me playing is I want to be there. There are no such things as affordable space ships, I can't fly a ww2 fighter plane or drive an f1 race car, but gaming gives me as close an approximation as I can get.
Any affordable gadget which bring the experience closer to "realism" the better and at under 300 quid it is fairly priced for what it offered IMO.
Yes I could wait for cv1 but by the time that comes out and my computer can do it justice cv2 may not be far off. At some point you just have to make a decision and go all in IMO or you may be for ever waiting for the next best thing.
I can't understand why somebody can't understand why you'd want one.
Is it not obvious? The ability to actually feel like you're in a created game or world, rather than peering at a facsimile through a flat, 2D screen.
The closest thing to Star Trek's holodeck we're likely to see for a long time I reckon, and for a couple of hundred quid? Bring it on!
Is it not obvious? The ability to actually feel like you're in a created game or world, rather than peering at a facsimile through a flat, 2D screen.
The closest thing to Star Trek's holodeck we're likely to see for a long time I reckon, and for a couple of hundred quid? Bring it on!
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