7 Tech Predictions for 2018

[Bob O'Donnell]

<div class="bbWrapper"><p>After a surprisingly robust 2017, our collective attentions now turn to the new year, and many questions arise as to <a href="https://www.techspot.com/article/1552-tech-predictions-2018/">what will happen in 2018</a>. Here&#39;s a reasoned look at some key themes I expect to drive important advances in the tech industry in 2018.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.techspot.com/article/1552-tech-predictions-2018/"><img alt="" src="https://static.techspot.com/articles-info/1552/images/2018-01-02-image-3.jpg" /></a></p><p><a rel='alternate' href='https://www.techspot.com/article/1552-tech-predictions-2018/' target='_blank' class='permalinkfeat'>Read the full article here.</a></p><p class='permalink'><a rel='alternate' href='https://www.techspot.com/article/1552-tech-predictions-2018/'>https://www.techspot.com/article/1552-tech-predictions-2018/</a></p></div>

 

[Evernessince]

"Part of the problem is that people have had unrealistic expectations about how often and how long people want to engage in AR or VR experiences."

"That’s why this year, I expect to see a lot of effort being spent to develop AR and VR products and experiences that better match their realistic part-time usage levels."

I can't say I agree at all with this statement. I follow the VR scene avidly and the best examples of VR are experiences that you spend allot of time with, not a little.

If you haven't noticed, games like VR Chat have consistently been on Twitch's top games list, especially in the afternoon when it usually takes top 3. AAA games like fallout 4 VR are an absolute blast, even when they are buggy.

I've played many of the smaller "part-time" experiences and they aren't nearly as compelling as the longer ones. VR still has a long way to go but I think 2018 will be business as usual and that it will continue in the same direction.

"Prediction 7: Voice Computing Cacophony"

I thought this one was going to be about the security aspects of these smart devices. High Powered Speakers with permissions to your online google/amazon accounts + poor security = win for hackers. Having one in each room sounds like a nightmare.

"Prediction 6: Tech Business Models Fall Under Increasing Scrutiny"

Couldn't agree more with this one. These companies went from Silicon valley darlings to just another set of greedy companies. Facebook especially, given that they admitted to taking money for Russian propaganda and couldn't even promise not to do it again. It's obvious that any company passing off "news" made by random people that has access to hundred of millions of Americans needs to held up to at least the same standard as regular news.

 

[Black Slasher]

They should focus in fix VR for people that suffers with motion sickness.
A dream, of course, since they can't even fix videogames.

 

[BrianMontanye]

They should focus in fix VR for people that suffers with motion sickness.
A dream, of course, since they can't even fix videogames.

I doubt you will see any kind of improvement there other than framerate. If the framerate is higher, I am betting the motion sickness will taper a bit. That is the experience I have anyway and I get dizzy after 1-2 revolutions on a merry go round. I realize though that this is my issue and not an issue with the merry go round. I would bet on other things making the motion sickness better, be it a medication or otherwise.

 

[Black Slasher]

I doubt you will see any kind of improvement there other than framerate. If the framerate is higher, I am betting the motion sickness will taper a bit. That is the experience I have anyway and I get dizzy after 1-2 revolutions on a merry go round. I realize though that this is my issue and not an issue with the merry go round. I would bet on other things making the motion sickness better, be it a medication or otherwise.

Steady framerate works for me, be it 30, 60, or 90. If they put a option to remove rubber banding/fancy moving/head bobing camera it would be nice.

IE.
Games that don't give me motion sickness:
Zelda Breath of the Wild, Overwatch, Dark Souls Series.

Games that give me motion sickness:
Mario Odyssey, Far Cry 3, Tomb Rider: Rise of the Tomb Rider.

 

[JaredTheDragon]

Couldn't agree more with this one. These companies went from Silicon valley darlings to just another set of greedy companies. Facebook especially, given that they admitted to taking money for Russian propaganda and couldn't even promise not to do it again. It's obvious that any company passing off "news" made by random people that has access to hundred of millions of Americans needs to held up to at least the same standard as regular news.

Do you mean the standards set forth in the Church Committee Hearings in the 1970s, when the CIA admitted to Congress that they owned and controlled the entire media from top to bottom? Facebook already meets and exceeds that standard being Langley's toy, outright. It's the same thing. The "regular news" already does this - propagandize, influence, and manipulate everyone possible at all times possible. Don't agree? Then you've been propagandized, influenced, and manipulated.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

They should focus in fix VR for people that suffers with motion sickness.
A dream, of course, since they can't even fix videogames.

Yeah some games create artificial movement that you aren't creating, which does make some people feel sick, or at the least a little unbalanced. Sitting down experiences, particularly for flight sims and racing sims though are probably easier to deal with. It is when you get artificial movement in any game that you are actually standing and moving around in where the huge problems can begin.

I've found joystick walking in VR to be fairly comfortable as long as I maintain a wide, prepared stance. I personally don't get sick but I do feel an unbalanced sensation when moving. My wife on the other hand, who can get sick in a car on the twisties, absolutely cannot handle this form of in game motion and it will make her vomit. She has to do teleportation or room scale walking. But, what can you do?

Locomotion for these types of games is a huge problem and room scale and teleportation just aren't enough to satisfy our desires for freedom of motion. I fear it will forever be a problem, and even though some of the "VR treadmill" like devices out there such as the Virtuix Omni, the KatVR, and the Cyberith Virtualizer aim to help this, they aren't 100% convincing as actually walking/running across a surface.

Until we can get some sort of electrically controlled material that can instantly take desired shapes and move in desired directions as needed, we won't get the real deal of locomotion for VR.

Best we can get right now is a huge warehouse and full tracking over the entire area, but the costs are quite high and having a big space just for VR isn't practical at all.

 

[tipstir]

PDA in Voice active boxes for us who like to talk and be heard. I am still not hooked on that tech. In Windows 10 Cortana and Google smart assistant in Chrome Browser and (Google) Android Cell phone. I Use either Desktop or Laptop connected to HDTV via Web HD Cam to talk to these PDA females. I still think one day they will be a lot better than they are. Google Home Mini almost had me sold. I would like to have these assistant control my ZWave Wireless Lighting System( prior was RF Lighting System). Tell it turn on the lights in the Living Room, Master Bed Room, Guest Room, Computer Room etc. Would be Neat O instead of pressing wireless controller. I still use Harmony remotes on all my HDTV here. I know that Google Mini can turn on HDTV. I use SONY products they sync and turn off when I fall asleep! LOL So still No sight yet for transparent technology in cell phones, UHDTV, moniters etc. Will it be in 2020 or 2030?

 

[Black Slasher]

Yeah some games create artificial movement that you aren't creating, which does make some people feel sick, or at the least a little unbalanced. Sitting down experiences, particularly for flight sims and racing sims though are probably easier to deal with. It is when you get artificial movement in any game that you are actually standing and moving around in where the huge problems can begin.

I've found joystick walking in VR to be fairly comfortable as long as I maintain a wide, prepared stance. I personally don't get sick but I do feel an unbalanced sensation when moving. My wife on the other hand, who can get sick in a car on the twisties, absolutely cannot handle this form of in game motion and it will make her vomit. She has to do teleportation or room scale walking. But, what can you do?

Locomotion for these types of games is a huge problem and room scale and teleportation just aren't enough to satisfy our desires for freedom of motion. I fear it will forever be a problem, and even though some of the "VR treadmill" like devices out there such as the Virtuix Omni, the KatVR, and the Cyberith Virtualizer aim to help this, they aren't 100% convincing as actually walking/running across a surface.

Until we can get some sort of electrically controlled material that can instantly take desired shapes and move in desired directions as needed, we won't get the real deal of locomotion for VR.

Best we can get right now is a huge warehouse and full tracking over the entire area, but the costs are quite high and having a big space just for VR isn't practical at all.

I kind am like your wife. For example, I get unconfortable just for being as a passenger in a car and the driver makes a maneuver that is totally unexpected for me, like turning quickly to the left when I'm thinking they will turn to the right. I can get REALLY sick with spaceship VR games and get really dizzy if I do maneuverings like "look right, turn left".

Never tried any of the fully fledged PC VR, but the confort recomendation of the Samsung Oculus Store seems on spot to me: if they say it can be uncomfortable, it will be uncomfortable.

I'm really an enthusiast of this kind of tech but can't use it cause my body derps on it. Add this to the fact that it seems the VR industry does not give a **** and medicine have no fix to this issue, only palliatives. This make me so sad.

PS: Sorry for the typos or any misuse of vocabulary. English is not my main language and sometimes I'm compelled to apply portuguese grammar rules to english. Hope I wrote clear enough.

 

[Reehahs]

I am still sceptical of voice assistants. They are an absolute pain at times to use in the car in Android Auto and you end up looking like a raging maniac. Simple things like making a quick voice note or just using voice to control music are done horribly.

 

[bohemond1099]

I think your assessment for VR is spot on; out of all the people that I know in real life; which is quite a few, I am the only one that has pc gaming quality VR (Oculus Rift); a few people have the Gear VR, but the overwhelming majority of those who play pc games have not bothered, even after I let them try mine. Even for me I find myself using it less and less, wearing a brick on my face with honestly terrible resolution, being tethered to my PC and lurching like a drunk are all big turnoffs; without even talking about the significant lack of quality VR games. 15-20 minutes is about as long as I can bear the irritation of a VR headset at this point now that the initial curio period is over. It just doesn't offer enough to justify my using it very often. Even if it becomes wireless and gets some decent content, I'll most likely stick to 2D gaming for the majority of my off time.