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<h4>This year Facebook has revealed a couple new products to hit the market. Are these the next technological advancement? Do you actually need this in your life or are the ads and influencers just telling you to buy it? </h4>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">I am not a tech junkie, though with the world quickly evolving our daily standards into the virtual world I am hearing, reading and seeing more technological advances made for the public. When I say hearing, reading, and seeing I'm talking about ads ads ads and of course television shows speculating about the "near future"- <em>because Back to the Future's future reference was 2015 and we are already well into 2021.</em> I'm talking Black Mirror, Upload and Ready Player One... If you haven't seen those please go watch them <em>now</em>. I watch too much tv so I will throw comparisons out there randomly, my brain thinks in movie scenes now- the names of the actors don't even matter.</p>
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<p>Anyways, this post is about AR and VR so for those of you who don't know what those terms are or what they mean, let me break it down for you. AR stands for augmented reality, basically it involves the real world setting with some virtual enhancements. The best example that most people are accustomed to now is Snapchat and its "filters", specifically the ones that overlay your face and or are little animations that dance on top of real images. Yup, that's considered AR! On the other hand VR stands for virtual reality, meaning it's strictly <em>that</em>, a virtual reality (the only real world thing is <strong>you</strong> <em>inside</em> a virtual setting). Again another example would be the movie Ready Player One, where people <em>feel</em> like they're in a video game but are they really? No, when their character gets hurt or dies- they don't die in real life. And that's the difference, the only things affected in VR is the virtual world.</p>
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<p>VR isn't just in Sci-Fi movies, video games companies and tech companies (like Microsoft) have been pushing systems that really take you there. In malls and arcades there are VR games that are these huge seats or even large screens with these big, bulky headsets. <em>Remember even Playstation had released a VR system in 2016 where they only had two games to play and the remotes looked like Wii remotes, yeah that was bad flop.</em> In classrooms, VR is encouraged if the school can't afford to take kids on field trips. Events where kids might see dolphins or whales for the first time at aquariums are probably only taking place either through a picture on Google or through VR headset at school.</p>
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<p>There are many ugly, bulky models of both AR and VR released throughout the years. Recently, some new releases have really stuck out to me. I like to remind people that for me, to buy something <em>real</em> expensive has to be worth it. My only valuables like my laptop and canon camera are investments. Is the price worth it? Will I use it so much that the dollar amounts don't even matter? <em>Like for instance, is this my next electric toothbrush?- where I get my everyday use at a hefty but decent price.</em> Let's dive in and see, though I doubt that I will be compelled enough to buy a set to try it on my own nearly-blind eyes.</p>
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<h3><strong>Billie Eilish x Saber Beat, Oculus Quest 2</strong></h3>
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<p>Almost two months ago, on September 21st Beat Saber, a VR rhythm video game (played on systems such as the Oculus Quest, PlayStation4 VR or Microsoft Windows VR Headsets for PC), announced that Billie Eilish music will be added to the game. Though the ads I have been seeing, are solely from Oculus so I'm assuming that this is the more preferred console to play this game on. Another big step for her latest album Happier Than Ever, this same album had a huge appearance on Disney+, and on September 24th just days after the announcement a VR concert of her appearance at the Governors Ball Music Festival. Which to my surprise, Oculus has a whole line up of artists performing with this feature. <em>Personally I still blame COVID-19 for making VR more practical replacements of events that happen often in our lives, I prefer in-person concerts over recorded but this is still an experience more livable than a Youtube video.</em></p>
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<p>Oculus Quest 2 is co-owned by both Google and Facebook. You have to have an accessible Facebook account to use this device. <em>A bit risky, if you keep up with the seemingly never-ending lawsuits and user privacy complaints including a number of other problems like scammer/hacker lock outs, terrible customer service and biased news feed algorithm.</em> Facebook also has a history of flashing ads at you, using every opportunity to track you to then later sell data for a revenue- it has become the brand's main focus. Ads are not going away when you buy this console, you may still see them while you are browsing through a few of its features; fitness, socials, games, Youtube, Netflix, live events, and a little bit more... there has to be a catch.</p>
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<p>When you buy a set it includes a total of six items, but depending on the storage options the price may vary. Of course there are also other add-ons and gear you can pay extra for. As of right now for 128GB you are paying $299, and for 256GB you are paying $399. To be honest, I'm not sure how much storage a casual user would use but that might not matter because some games and services alone take up tons of space. From what I found most games are about 3GB and the biggest VR game out there takes up about 8GB. Technically, you can buy the iphone 13 with 128GB for $829<em> without a phone plan</em>, a VR console by Facebook is definitely more affordable than a basic necessity. <em>Maybe, in the future having a Facebook account will become a basic necessity too.</em></p>
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<h3><meta charset="utf-8">Facebook x Ray Ban "Stories"</h3>
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<p>Still on the Facebook topic, on September 9th Mark Zuckerberg announced the new product that is now available to the public, Ray Ban Stories. 3 frames with 20 different look combinations of Ray Ban smart glasses with features such as photo and video captures that sharing to Facebook and sync to your phone as well as call and music listening. You could even add your prescription to the frames like any regular pair of glasses. The technical specs includes a fancy charging case (a concept similar to a charging pad), bluetooth and wifi connectivity, and patented transitions lenses. All for $299. <em>It looks like a much more financed version of Snapchats Spectacles.</em> Which is technically not AR or VR, just a mini camera attached to a pair of glasses- were spy glasses considered AR or VR in their time? No, so maybe they're just a little closer to AR technology than others.</p>
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<p>A couple companies like Google, Amazon and Apple are still trying to get their products to be modern yet fit practicality in everyday lives. <em>Which I'll admit, I am a little motivated to buy a pair just to try it for myself. </em>But again there are still concerns for privacy with this device if it were to be used for the wrong reasons. According to an article on <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/9/22662809/facebook-ray-ban-stories-camera-smart-glasses-hands-on">The Verge</a>, "Facebook sent me a list of advocacy groups that it consulted with on privacy-related issues during the development of the glasses, including the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the LGBT Technology Partnership. The people I spoke with said Facebook took their feedback seriously, and that they overall feel comfortable with how the product is designed. But some agreed that the recording light should be more prominent." No doubt a story like that will hit the news, then Ray Ban will take some of the heat Facebook continues to endure. <em>If you're thinking what I'm thinking: yes, people really hate Facebook that much.</em></p>
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<p>If you want to check out the specs and reviews for yourself, feel free to write me your personal opinion. Until then I might just wait and see if Facebook will be offering Black Friday Deals. I'm also waiting for the second generation because why waste my money on problems they will have easily fixed in the next generation. Whether you hate Facebook or adore it, I think I'll choose to limit myself until the product has become an absolute necessity in our society- which in given time, it will become.<br></p>
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