Imagine how kids are glued to their cell phones today. Not I true a slim, always on VR/augmented reality device that allows them to connect with their friends virtually. Add cameras and mics for shared experiences and streaming their lives and it is clear this is in its infancy.
"Rainbow's End" by Vernor Vinge starts to get into this a bit and provides great insight there. Functional "telepathy" seems almost reachable with how fast this has moved.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/tech/mobile/americans-prefer-t...
I wonder if VR as a communication tool could supplant video calling? Although it lacks the ability for a family to physically gather around a screen and communicate as a group.
I would also ask, what's the market penetration of a $600 smart phone that you can take everywhere and do tons and tons of useful things with? No where near facebook's total penetration. Sure they're becoming more and more ubiquitus but remember that most people don't have a need for a upper end gaming pc and convincing them that they have to have it so they can virtual-skype with their friends from only one room in their house makes it seem a lot like the original telephone for quite a while. Expensive, and tied to a single place.
Don't get me wrong, it's SUPER COOL to demo (I went onsite at valve).
I've seen Mark's vision for Oculus described as the next step in connecting all of the people on the planet in a few pieces now. What interests me about this position is that it implies:
1) gaming and entertainment braodly are not the end game. Instead, the social interactions.
2) VR hardware will see broader consumer penetration in the population not yet reached by facebook than mobile phones
Not sure what I think yet.