> In the next 20-25, I would not be surprised if it becomes no more than contact lenses.
I can see the current XR headsets shrinking down to the size of a pair of glasses within a couple decades, but contact lenses would require a giant leap forward in technology.
You'd need displays, electronics, sensors and batteries that can all fit together inside a paper-thin plane, and also, somehow, be invisible. Not saying it will never happen but we are really talking sci-fi tech at this point.
If I went back in time (say... 1991) and told people my predictions of the future, I will likely be laughed at for being sci-fi tech. For example, let suggest I predict that by 2011 most people in developed Countries will have a PDA allowing you to make calls or connect with people all over the world. Sure many will laugh at me.
I continue to say that these PDA's will be a 5" touchscreen, allowing you to play games. Games far more powerful than the Mega Drive and can play with your friends from anywhere in the world. The PDA has a far superior, higher resolution screen beyond 640x480 and can render much faster 3D images than the supercomputers of today (ie SGI workstations)
All of these claims.. alongside explaining what a PDA is, which you can fit in your pocket that wont need charging for 5+ hours, etc...
Even people who do see the possibility will likely spend most of their efforts explaining that their RC Cars don't last 30 mins without recharding the batteries, so this wont work, either!
Of course by PDA (Personal Data Assistant) - I refer to what we call Smartphones today.
Point is - I try to be realistic about future tech even in the next 20-25 years.. but I leave some areas open to being more "advanced" than we anticipate.
Yes.. contact lenses is a stretch for "next 20-25 years" but lets not ignore the suggestion. Young kids in 2040 will laugh at how we managed to wear these "heavy" VR headsets. Who knows how this type of tech will evolve and mix with other tech.
I can see the current XR headsets shrinking down to the size of a pair of glasses within a couple decades, but contact lenses would require a giant leap forward in technology.
You'd need displays, electronics, sensors and batteries that can all fit together inside a paper-thin plane, and also, somehow, be invisible. Not saying it will never happen but we are really talking sci-fi tech at this point.