War

We call those particular head-mounted displays First Person Viewers, but the biggest difference from consumer VR headsets is that they are single-purpose devices rather than general purpose computers. Instead of multitasking computing power, they feature long-range antennas designed to transport the operator into the body of a fast-moving flying machine packed with explosives. So what happens when you hook up an antenna to a general-purpose computer like the $300 Quest 3S? Does it offer any benefits over the dedicated FPV headset? Anduril’s page for command and control already outlines the general idea while depicting the older Quest 2. A fleet of aircraft or satellites could map the landscape from far above and draw the surrounding terrain with all the people inside it. Such a tool, laying out the physical world in front of you like the chess pieces on a game board, could look much like the playful app Wooorld, one of the best mixed reality experiences, whose users simply revisit their childhood home or play geography quizzes with friends. Floating above that live 3D map will be a 1080p virtual display, bigger than a 70-inch television mounted to a wall, showing the live view of an explosive-packed low-altitude remote-controlled drone that’s closing in on-the-ground targets. Meta’s recent updates to Quest headsets, which bring multitasking to Horizon OS, could offer side panels with relevant information or even views to backup drones. What’s more effective than commanding a single explosive-packed drone? As soon as it explodes, the pilot’s eyes turn to the next one. Each aircraft obliterates itself like a World War II kamikaze, without the loss of the pilot, as the next death package is already ready for a final run.

Sex

VR is also used in large numbers by adults to partake in a more impactful kind of sexual interaction than traditional “sexting”. Any partner you want can seem to perform any act you desire with bluetooth-connected accessories remotely connecting the actions of these individuals in real-time. It’s already a more common aspect of modern sex than most people realize, and you can look at the economics of OnlyFans ($6.3 billion in gross revenues for 2024) for an indication of its reach. With the Internet moving bits, and a head-mounted display delivering embodiment, VR enables sex which neither transmits disease through contact nor results in unwanted pregnancy. What is risked by handing over the most fundamental of human bonding and evolution to the Internet as intermediary? Many people already lament leaving their first impressions to swipes on photos, but those connections are often still geo-restricted because many people value what they learn from the smell, taste, and warmth of another’s skin before committing long-term to significant time together. VR is changing this particular game, so to speak, and we’ll discover how relationships and people change as we go. The key thing to convey here is that this transformation is already well underway.