In a recent article posted on Gamasutra, “only safe way forward,” the CEO from Magic Leap, Rony Abovitz, tries to spin fear into the developers of AR/VR devices. In a nutshell, he says that AR/VR system where the eye looks at a monitor just centimeters away from the eye, may cause a neurological change. I’m not not sure what it meant by “neurological change.” He goes on to say that Magic Leap’s technology of creating tiny projectors to shine light into the eyes of the user is the only safe way to go.
The full context of the information can be found in the Reddit, “Ask Me Anything” column. The exchange is quite lengthy and I honestly have not had an opportunity to explore it thoroughly.
However, I am concerned, not only by the “ask Me anything” column but by the meaning of the gamasutra post. Rony Abovitz charges right out of the gates spinning a web of fear and discrediting other technologies in favor of his own. It is true Magic Leap is shrowded in a veil of mystery. No one knows if there is any research data to support his claims. Similarly, he is making claims based on a product which does not exist yet and may not available yet for some time. This concerns me not only as a developer but as an investor and consumer myself.
I am wise to the ploys of marketing fear. We live in a fear based society. 9/11, fabricated or not, has done nothing but install the seed of fear into American’s minds. News agencies pray on this. Smart businesses exploit this fear based atmosphere and promote their product as a solution to the un-yet discovered Jabberwocky.
Magic Leap may have a stellar product on its hands. However, by initially exploiting fear into the public, I am immediately turned off. Immersive AR/VR, storyworlds and experiences are an amaizing new media that will challenge, in a good way, the definition of being human. Exploiting fear based environments tells me there is only concern of a mediocre product and the only method to safe face is bring everyone down with them.
Not me, thank you.