MASS INTEGRATION:  The Race to Capitalize on a Virtual FutureRandy Johnson 21st Century WireDigital technology has increasingly and exponentially become a part of our lives. Virtual worlds and reality, as humanity has known it to be for millennia, appear to be on ever-converging paths.  Will humanity and digital reality be on a path of integration or a collision course?While the direct application of Virtual Reality was difficult to see in everyday life following the 1992 Hollywood film Lawnmower Man, the reality of such technology is now coming into focus.Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technology (also interchangeably known as either AR/VR or VR/AR) are ideas that have been hammered out in the digital sphere with regards to concepts and applications of use. Along with the steady advancement of digital computing power, an AR/VR future might better be portrayed in certain episodes of Black Mirror, such as Fifteen Million Merits or Playtest. Black Mirror s, Playtest: Season 4, Episode 2. A stare-down between perception and reality (Image Source: Polygon)The possibility and potential of the technology has made it a magnet for investment. There are profits to be made in this growing realm, and the implications of what these emerging technologies could do for (and to) humanity is staggering.So before delving into some current developments in AR/VR technology, let s take a quick look at historically new technologies which are now a part of our real world, everyday, lives: the smartphone and the motor vehicle.The Smartphone StratosphereOn one hand, the smart phone is merely synthetic material with  touch  screens and circuitry. Now in less than two decades, there are those whose daily lives are hindered without one. The attachment is almost as emotional as it is literal in some instances. Many need them to communicate, be entertained, figure out where they are, purchase products, or even socially interact with others or the avatars of others. To many teenagers across the world and Generation Y Millennials, the smartphone has always been there.It can be argued that society as a whole is becoming dependent and addicted to smartphones and other  smart  devices. In fact, with over 2.5 billion smartphone subscriptions world wide in 2016, corporations and marketers are counting on it.Seeing a person interacting with any number of touch-screen devices does not garner much of a second look. Oftentimes, the person without the smart phone is the person who stands out in a crowd, as they are sometimes seen reading one of those archaic things we call a  book.  It is now commonplace that people can interact with thousands of different applications on countless versions of technological devices.Hooked: Not only can we take the physical work out of travel on mass-transit, we can also be oblivious to the journey along the way, as well as the work involved to make it all happen.  (Image Source: ne-asia.com)After a few generations, many technologies simply become integrated  as it were. They become a part of us and our day-to-day lives, and are a part of the real world.For comparative analysis, let s take a look at the evolution of another well-known technology, the motor vehicle From Engines to ElectricIn roughly 100 years, humanity has essentially integrated itself with motorized vehicle technology. The motor vehicle and all the industries that come with it, has shaped the world as we know it.Driving a vehicle, and everything that comes with it such as such as its design, manufacture, delivery, sale, gas and oil production, road ways, traffic laws, law enforcement, theft, accidents, smog, fighting over oil resources, etc., has effected nearly everyone.The sales pitch and appeal of the motor vehicle have always gone together. From its early days, to current-day advertisements, automobiles have been marketed with the promise of freedom on the open road. In fact, the evolution of vehicular technology is a good indicator of how a specific type of technology can transform humanity in a very short amount of time. Technological Bliss: A promise of open roads and freedom (Image Source: NBC.com)The promise of anything good always seems to have a catch. Ease of movement with the automobile is not without its environmental impact. Without the automobile in particular, we would not have terms such as gridlock, traffic jam, or road rage for instance.Progress is not without its side effects.  (Image Source: kerma.wordpress.com)The motor vehicle is a technology and a part of our world to such an extent that where we are dependent on it.The environmental and health concerns of gas and oil extraction and production, as well as geopolitical maneuvering and even warfare based on assumed resource scarcity, the deep infrastructure roots and dependence of commerce is in place. To stop the flow of motor vehicles, would inhibit the freedom of people to travel, commute to work, and utterly stop industry and commerce in its place.Electrically Re-energizing the AutomobileThe current slow-but-eventual transition from gasoline engines to hybrid or fully electric ones is just an evolution of the technology. While electric car technology is believed to have been discovered in the mid-1800 s, it has only recently made inroads to the industry on a potentially large scale with the Roadster by Tesla Motors.The Tesla Model S, has a 2017 manufacturer s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $69,200 dollars, while the most recent (2015)  US Real Median Family Income  was listed as $69,929.With the success of Tesla, the amount of established gas and oil engine automakers is lining up to diversify their portfolio for their consumers, is  who s who  list of the auto-industry. BMW, Chrysler-Fiat, Daimler (Mercedes),  Ford, General Motors, Honda, KIA, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Volvo, all have their own hybrid or electric car lines. After decades of profit, these industry giants can t wait to show the consumer that they too are environmentally conscious. Likewise, the consumer appears ready to accept  guilt free  and environmentally responsible driving as the electric car continues to improve, lowers in price, and becomes more widely available.Emerging Patterns: AR/VR technologyWith many integrated technologies in our lives such as smart devices or motor vehicles, if it feels like  we ve seen this pattern before,  it is because we have.First the technology is new. Next commercialism, industry, education systems, entertainment, pop culture, and the government, all conspire to get in on the action; during this time, the race to integrate and capitalize on a technology in the name progress can induce a Gold Rush type of feeding frenzy. Then pre-established corporations are already pre-positioned, with the ready capital, assets, and resources to pounce on  the next big thing.  And finally, over a generation or so of different improvements and variations, it is hard to remember a world without said technology for those who inherit a world with it. Whether real or imagined   it becomes a necessity.The likely integration of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (AR/VR) into our daily lives will likely follow the same pattern as other technological advances. Similarly, with regards to forecasting its future integration in our lives, the saying  follow the money  applies.First though, what exactly is AR/VR as it is currently understood to be?Augmented Reality (AR) uses the world around you, but a device introduces virtual items, characters, etc., into the real world that a person interacts with. This is popularly seen with the downloadable application for smart phones, with the game Pok mon GO.Virtual Reality (VR) is the glasses/headset set-up where you are visually, and often audibly, immersed. Put on the glasses/headset, or similar gear such as Oculus Rift, or VIVE and you are in a whole virtual world.Both technologies are primed for upward momentum.Although economic forecasting has not always been an exact science, the monetary forecast for AR/VR technology seems to point upward.Business Wire notes: worldwide revenues for the augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) market to reach $13.9 billion in 2017, an increase of 130.5% over the $6.1 billion spent in 2016.  AR/VR spending is expected to accelerate over the next several years, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 198.0% over the 2015-2020 forecast period and totaling $143.3 billion in 2020. It is important to note that the above figures are amounts projected to be spent by companies to further advance AR/VR technology. So the expectation for profit is most likely in the trillions.Does this sound far-fetched? For a  real world success story with regards to these emerging technologies in terms of profit, then Pok mon GO has been there, done that, and cashed the checks.By some estimates, Pok mon GO has made Niantic over 900 million dollars in 2016.Using Pok mon GO as a barometer of future profits, the potential is huge. Especially when you consider that in the ever-changing gaming world, many already considered outdated, requiring updates, fixes, and new features by many of it s users.  If Pok mon GO calls it a career or not, the fortune has already been made.Virtual scavenger hunts are fun!That kind of money has already inspired a similar styled  brand-supported  game in its early stages, called Snatch. Besides the puzzle and scavenger hunt aspects of Snatch, players will be immersed into an augmented reality with a commercialized, brand name, token-based, application where you can  snatch  items from other players to win prizes.If you do not fully  get it  perhaps the below video can help explain what it s all about.You heard it hear first; if it hasn t happened already, playing Snatch is likely to start at least one physical, real world, fight over the potential of having a prize  snatched  by a player nearby.Immersion, Entertainment & InvestmentAll of the AR/VR technology is still  finding its sea-legs so to speak and is still in transition with more  immersive  worlds. Along the way, AR/VR has been undergoing a natural progression and fusion with the gaming world. Gaming, and entertainment, appears to be the seductive gateway application for AR/VR technology development and profit potential.As games and game consoles have become more immersive over the years, it appears that AR/VR is expected to advance with it.The addictive element to immersive games is often literal in some cases as seen in the WebMD.com article Video Game Addiction No Fun:  The lure of a fantasy world is especially pertinent to online role-playing games. These are games in which a player assumes the role of a fictional character and interacts with other players in a virtual world   [according to Kimberly Young, PsyD] an intelligent child who is unpopular at school can  become dominant in the game.  The virtual life becomes more appealing than real life. Also, let there be little doubt that any psychological aspect of marketing to churn out profit will be used, as the video-gaming world is a 100 billion dollar industry globally. That s hardly child s play.The greater the entertainment immersion and the technological bliss, the bigger  the hook  to the consuming public will become. So despite a slow-yet-increasing public acclimatization with regards to AR/VR, investments keep pouring in.According to Digi-Capital, the investments for AR/VR start-ups in 2016 came in at a cool $2.3 billion dollars.These numbers for start-ups are in addition to previous acquisitions such as Facebooks  Mark Zuckerberg s now famous $2 billion dollar purchase of Oculus Rift.Investments also include such companies as NextVR that can deliver live events in a VR format.  The investors are a  who s who  of present day media empires in the United States.We see the following from nanalyze.com: Laguna Beach California startup NextVR has taken in $115 million in funding so far from investors that include Time Warner, Comcast, and The Madison Square Garden Company. In addition to these strategic investors, FOX Sports, Live Nation, NBC Sports, HBO/Golden Boy, Turner Sports, and CNN have all partnered with NextVR .The object for up-and-running companies like Next VR, or their investor Live Nation, is to bring entertainment events such as concerts or sporting events to the masses.In addition to the actual gate at a sporting event or concert of say, 50,000 people, you could also charge a virtual gate, if you will, for another million people who were never even there.Another company starting to make some real world profits is Utah s THE VOID.  The company is in continually advancing their Dream Park in Utah.  They have themed virtual reality (or hyper reality as they refer to it) type of  experiences  in New York and Dubai.Below is a trailer for their Ghostbusters hyper-reality experience in New York City.That s right   you too can don a nuclear power pack and save New York from the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.To be fair, besides entertainment purposes, there will be benefits of AR/VR technology. Uses for design, training, and experimentation within a multitude of industries, science, and research and development, can all be enabled by VR. Medical students can practice on  fake  patients, soldiers can train in virtual combat with no casualties, researchers can get inside of a molecule, designers or architects can better visualize or display their concepts, and so on.For example, in April 2016, the United Kingdom s Medical Realities used its product The Virtual Surgeon, which is a  learning program   developed for head mounted displays such as the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR . The live-stream was a first of its kind showing a live surgery allowing for a 360 degree view, and was witnessed live in places as far as China and Tunisia according to their site.Virtual Medicine (Image Source: Medical Realities)The other side of the AR/VR coinKeep in mind, however, that there this is likely a trade off for well-intentioned purposes realized by the implementation and advancement of AR/VR. These same advancements in AR/VR will also almost undoubtedly have profit, control, surveillance, and culture-shaping, as drivers for its very implementation and integration to our lives.AR/VR, like art, books, pamphlets, magazines, newspapers, graffiti, radio, television, and the internet, is a medium which can be utilized. With social norms, economies, and forms of government to influence the masses thrown into as variables, the acclimatization to AR/VR by society is likely to be many things to many people.  Even today, we have News and Fake News. President; not my President. Facts and Alternate Facts.  All of these types of psychological shaping of reality could be further jammed into Virtual Reality.Even within education. Subjective topics, or viewpoints on historical events made to be realistic for experiential learning purposes could be abused. No different then a book or website, a VR lesson will have an author, a bias, and will be an area rife with the potential for politicization or propaganda infusion.Like motor vehicles or smart devices above, AR/VR also has society-changing potential. The possibilities for mass-level use, consumption, and integration of virtual technology could very well change our reality; literally and figuratively; shared and personal. The implications go beyond the industry and commercial implications of its use and delve into what makes us human and into what is real.We hear it all the time, but social engineering is what it sounds like.  The direct implication of the phrase is that aspects of society can be engineered and designed towards a desired effect or result.The outcome desired for those at the top of our current power structures and institutions might entail use of technology to socially engineer with a nefarious slant: to conform the masses, infuse propaganda, create thoughtless compliance, and degrade critical thinking in favor of living a blissful other life, elsewhere in another digital reality.As the great celluloid philosopher, Morpheus, from the Hollywood blockbuster The Matrix, once pondered,  What is real?  How do you define  real ?  If you re talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see  then  real  is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. Might the world literally become whatever anyone wants to make of it?Are we choosing for ourselves, or are we all merely like  fish in the ocean  being swept up unawares in a tide of social engineering?A technologically controlled, artificial, designed, and immersive environment could possibly redefine reality, and what it means to be human along with it.READ MORE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY: 21st Century Wire Technology Files US_News
mass integration the race capitalize virtual futurerandy johnson century wiredigital technology increasingly exponentially become part lives virtual worlds reality humanity known millennia appear paths will humanity digital reality path integration collision course while direct application virtual reality difficult see everyday life following hollywood film lawnmower man reality technology coming reality virtual reality technology also interchangeably known either ideas hammered digital sphere regards concepts applications use along steady advancement digital computing power future might better portrayed certain episodes black mirror fifteen million merits latest black mirror latest season episode a perception reality image source polygon the possibility potential technology made magnet investment there profits made growing realm implications emerging technologies could humanity leaving current developments technology let take quick look historically new technologies part real world everyday lives smartphone motor smartphone stratosphereon one hand smart phone merely synthetic material touch screens circuitry now less two decades whose daily lives hindered without one the attachment almost emotional literal instances many need communicate entertained figure purchase products even socially interact others avatars others to many teenagers across world generation y millennials smartphone always argued society whole becoming dependent addicted smartphones smart devices in fact billion smartphone subscriptions world wide corporations marketers counting person interacting number devices garner much second look oftentimes person without smart phone person stands crowd sometimes seen reading one archaic things call book it commonplace people interact thousands different applications countless versions technological not take physical work travel also oblivious journey along way well work involved make happen image source after generations many technologies simply become integrated they become part us lives part real comparative analysis let take look evolution another technology motor vehicle from engines electrician roughly years humanity essentially integrated motorized vehicle technology the motor vehicle industries come shaped world know vehicle everything comes design manufacture delivery sale gas oil production road ways traffic laws law enforcement theft accidents smog fighting oil resources effected nearly sales pitch appeal motor vehicle always gone together from early days advertisements automobiles marketed promise freedom open road in fact evolution vehicular technology good indicator specific type technology transform humanity short amount time technological bliss a promise open roads freedom image source the promise anything good always seems catch ease movement automobile without environmental impact without automobile particular would terms gridlock traffic jam road rage without side effects image source the motor vehicle technology part world extent dependent environmental health concerns gas oil extraction production well geopolitical maneuvering even warfare based assumed resource scarcity deep infrastructure roots dependence commerce place to stop flow motor vehicles would inhibit freedom people travel commute work utterly stop industry commerce automobilethe current transition gasoline engines hybrid fully electric ones evolution technology while electric car technology believed discovered recently made inroads industry potentially large scale roadster tesla tesla model s manufacturer suggested retail price mrsp dollars recent us real median family income listed success tesla amount established gas oil engine automakers lining diversify portfolio consumers list bmw dimer mercedes ford general motors honda kia mitsubishi nissan volkswagen volvo hybrid electric car lines after decades profit industry giants wait show consumer environmentally conscious likewise consumer appears ready accept guilt free environmentally responsible driving electric car continues improve lowers price becomes widely patterns technologywith many integrated technologies lives smart devices motor vehicles feels like seen pattern technology new next commercials industry education systems entertainment pop culture government conspire get action time race integrate capitalize technology name progress induce gold rush type feeding frenzy then corporations already ready capital assets resources bounce next big thing and finally generation different improvements variations hard remember world without said technology inherit world whether real imagined becomes likely integration virtual reality augmented reality daily lives likely follow pattern technological advances similarly regards forecasting future integration lives saying follow money though exactly currently understood augmented reality ar uses world around device introduces virtual items characters real world person interacts this popularly seen downloadable application smart phones game pok mon reality vr visually often audible immersed put similar gear oculi rift vive whole virtual technologies primed upward economic forecasting always exact science monetary forecast technology seems point wire notes worldwide revenues augmented reality virtual reality market reach billion increase billion spent spending expected accelerate next several years achieving compound annual growth rate car forecast period totaling billion it important note figures amounts projected spent companies advance technology so expectation profit likely sound for real world success story regards emerging technologies terms profit pok mon go done crashed estimates pok mon go made gigantic million dollars pok mon go barometer future profits potential huge especially consider gaming world many already considered outdated requiring updates fixes new features many users if pok mon go calls career fortune already scavenger hunts fun that kind money already inspired similar styled game early stages called snatch besides puzzle scavenger hunt aspects snatch players immersed augmented reality commercialized brand name application snatch items players win fully get perhaps video help explain heard hear first happened already playing snatch likely start least one physical real world fight potential prize snatched player entertainment investmentall technology still finding speak still transition immersive worlds along way undergoing natural progression fusion gaming world gaming entertainment appears seductive gateway application technology development profit games game consoles become immersive years appears expected advance addictive element immersive games often literal cases seen article video game addiction no fun the lure fantasy world especially pertinent online games these games player assumes role fictional character interacts players virtual world according kimberly young psy intelligent child unpopular school become dominant game the virtual life becomes appealing real life also let little doubt psychological aspect marketing chun profit used world billion dollar industry globally that hardly child greater entertainment immersion technological bliss bigger hook consuming public become so despite public acclimatization regards investments keep pouring investments came cool billion numbers addition previous acquisitions facebook mark zuckerberg famous billion dollar purchase oculi also include companies next deliver live events vr format the investors present day media empires united see following laguna beach california startup next taken million funding far investors include time warner comcast the madison square garden company in addition strategic investors fox sports live nation nbc sports boy turner sports cnn partnered next object companies like next vr investor live nation bring entertainment events concerts sporting events addition actual gate sporting event concert say people could also charge virtual gate another million people never even company starting make real world profits utah the void the company continually advancing dream park utah they themed virtual reality hyper reality refer type experiences new york trailer ghostbusters experience new york right nuclear power pack save new york giant stay put marshmallow fair besides entertainment purposes benefits technology uses design training experimentation within multitude industries science research development enabled vr medical students practice fake patients soldiers train virtual combat casualties researchers get inside molecule designers architects better visualize display concepts example april united kingdom medical realities used product the virtual surgeon learning program developed head mounted displays oculi rift samsung gear vr the first kind showing live surgery allowing degree view witnessed live places far china tunisia according medicine image source medical realities the side coinkeep mind however likely trade purposes realized implementation advancement these advancements also almost undoubtedly profit control surveillance drivers implementation integration like art books pamphlets magazines newspapers graffiti radio television internet medium utilized with social norms economies forms government influence masses thrown variables acclimatization society likely many things many people even today news fake news president president facts alternate facts all types psychological shaping reality could jammed virtual within education subjective topics viewpoints historical events made realistic experiential learning purposes could abused no different book website vr lesson author bias area rife potential politicization propaganda motor vehicles smart devices also potential the possibilities use consumption integration virtual technology could well change reality literally figurative shared personal the implications go beyond industry commercial implications use delve makes us human hear time social engineering sounds like the direct implication phrase aspects society engineered designed towards desired effect outcome desired top current power structures institutions might entail use technology socially engineer nefarious slant conform masses infused propaganda create thoughtless compliance degrade critical thinking favor living blissful life elsewhere another digital great cellulose philosopher amorphous hollywood blockbuster the matrix wondered what real how define real if talking feel smell taste see real simply electrical signals interpreted brain might world literally become whatever anyone wants make are choosing merely like fish ocean swept unaware tide social engineering a technologically controlled artificial designed immersive environment could possibly redefine reality means human along more about technology century wire technology files us_news
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: MASS INTEGRATION:  The Race to Capitalize on a Virtual FutureRandy Johnson 21st Century WireDigital technology has increasingly and exponentially become a part of our lives. Virtual worlds and reality, as humanity has known it to be for millennia, appear to be on ever-converging paths.  Will humanity and digital reality be on a path of integration or a collision course?While the direct application of Virtual Reality was difficult to see in everyday life following the 1992 Hollywood film Lawnmower Man, the reality of such technology is now coming into focus.Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technology (also interchangeably known as either AR/VR or VR/AR) are ideas that have been hammered out in the digital sphere with regards to concepts and applications of use. Along with the steady advancement of digital computing power, an AR/VR future might better be portrayed in certain episodes of Black Mirror, such as Fifteen Million Merits or Playtest. Black Mirror s, Playtest: Season 4, Episode 2. A stare-down between perception and reality (Image Source: Polygon)The possibility and potential of the technology has made it a magnet for investment. There are profits to be made in this growing realm, and the implications of what these emerging technologies could do for (and to) humanity is staggering.So before delving into some current developments in AR/VR technology, let s take a quick look at historically new technologies which are now a part of our real world, everyday, lives: the smartphone and the motor vehicle.The Smartphone StratosphereOn one hand, the smart phone is merely synthetic material with  touch  screens and circuitry. Now in less than two decades, there are those whose daily lives are hindered without one. The attachment is almost as emotional as it is literal in some instances. Many need them to communicate, be entertained, figure out where they are, purchase products, or even socially interact with others or the avatars of others. To many teenagers across the world and Generation Y Millennials, the smartphone has always been there.It can be argued that society as a whole is becoming dependent and addicted to smartphones and other  smart  devices. In fact, with over 2.5 billion smartphone subscriptions world wide in 2016, corporations and marketers are counting on it.Seeing a person interacting with any number of touch-screen devices does not garner much of a second look. Oftentimes, the person without the smart phone is the person who stands out in a crowd, as they are sometimes seen reading one of those archaic things we call a  book.  It is now commonplace that people can interact with thousands of different applications on countless versions of technological devices.Hooked: Not only can we take the physical work out of travel on mass-transit, we can also be oblivious to the journey along the way, as well as the work involved to make it all happen.  (Image Source: ne-asia.com)After a few generations, many technologies simply become integrated  as it were. They become a part of us and our day-to-day lives, and are a part of the real world.For comparative analysis, let s take a look at the evolution of another well-known technology, the motor vehicle From Engines to ElectricIn roughly 100 years, humanity has essentially integrated itself with motorized vehicle technology. The motor vehicle and all the industries that come with it, has shaped the world as we know it.Driving a vehicle, and everything that comes with it such as such as its design, manufacture, delivery, sale, gas and oil production, road ways, traffic laws, law enforcement, theft, accidents, smog, fighting over oil resources, etc., has effected nearly everyone.The sales pitch and appeal of the motor vehicle have always gone together. From its early days, to current-day advertisements, automobiles have been marketed with the promise of freedom on the open road. In fact, the evolution of vehicular technology is a good indicator of how a specific type of technology can transform humanity in a very short amount of time. Technological Bliss: A promise of open roads and freedom (Image Source: NBC.com)The promise of anything good always seems to have a catch. Ease of movement with the automobile is not without its environmental impact. Without the automobile in particular, we would not have terms such as gridlock, traffic jam, or road rage for instance.Progress is not without its side effects.  (Image Source: kerma.wordpress.com)The motor vehicle is a technology and a part of our world to such an extent that where we are dependent on it.The environmental and health concerns of gas and oil extraction and production, as well as geopolitical maneuvering and even warfare based on assumed resource scarcity, the deep infrastructure roots and dependence of commerce is in place. To stop the flow of motor vehicles, would inhibit the freedom of people to travel, commute to work, and utterly stop industry and commerce in its place.Electrically Re-energizing the AutomobileThe current slow-but-eventual transition from gasoline engines to hybrid or fully electric ones is just an evolution of the technology. While electric car technology is believed to have been discovered in the mid-1800 s, it has only recently made inroads to the industry on a potentially large scale with the Roadster by Tesla Motors.The Tesla Model S, has a 2017 manufacturer s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $69,200 dollars, while the most recent (2015)  US Real Median Family Income  was listed as $69,929.With the success of Tesla, the amount of established gas and oil engine automakers is lining up to diversify their portfolio for their consumers, is  who s who  list of the auto-industry. BMW, Chrysler-Fiat, Daimler (Mercedes),  Ford, General Motors, Honda, KIA, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Volvo, all have their own hybrid or electric car lines. After decades of profit, these industry giants can t wait to show the consumer that they too are environmentally conscious. Likewise, the consumer appears ready to accept  guilt free  and environmentally responsible driving as the electric car continues to improve, lowers in price, and becomes more widely available.Emerging Patterns: AR/VR technologyWith many integrated technologies in our lives such as smart devices or motor vehicles, if it feels like  we ve seen this pattern before,  it is because we have.First the technology is new. Next commercialism, industry, education systems, entertainment, pop culture, and the government, all conspire to get in on the action; during this time, the race to integrate and capitalize on a technology in the name progress can induce a Gold Rush type of feeding frenzy. Then pre-established corporations are already pre-positioned, with the ready capital, assets, and resources to pounce on  the next big thing.  And finally, over a generation or so of different improvements and variations, it is hard to remember a world without said technology for those who inherit a world with it. Whether real or imagined   it becomes a necessity.The likely integration of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality (AR/VR) into our daily lives will likely follow the same pattern as other technological advances. Similarly, with regards to forecasting its future integration in our lives, the saying  follow the money  applies.First though, what exactly is AR/VR as it is currently understood to be?Augmented Reality (AR) uses the world around you, but a device introduces virtual items, characters, etc., into the real world that a person interacts with. This is popularly seen with the downloadable application for smart phones, with the game Pok mon GO.Virtual Reality (VR) is the glasses/headset set-up where you are visually, and often audibly, immersed. Put on the glasses/headset, or similar gear such as Oculus Rift, or VIVE and you are in a whole virtual world.Both technologies are primed for upward momentum.Although economic forecasting has not always been an exact science, the monetary forecast for AR/VR technology seems to point upward.Business Wire notes: worldwide revenues for the augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) market to reach $13.9 billion in 2017, an increase of 130.5% over the $6.1 billion spent in 2016.  AR/VR spending is expected to accelerate over the next several years, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 198.0% over the 2015-2020 forecast period and totaling $143.3 billion in 2020. It is important to note that the above figures are amounts projected to be spent by companies to further advance AR/VR technology. So the expectation for profit is most likely in the trillions.Does this sound far-fetched? For a  real world success story with regards to these emerging technologies in terms of profit, then Pok mon GO has been there, done that, and cashed the checks.By some estimates, Pok mon GO has made Niantic over 900 million dollars in 2016.Using Pok mon GO as a barometer of future profits, the potential is huge. Especially when you consider that in the ever-changing gaming world, many already considered outdated, requiring updates, fixes, and new features by many of it s users.  If Pok mon GO calls it a career or not, the fortune has already been made.Virtual scavenger hunts are fun!That kind of money has already inspired a similar styled  brand-supported  game in its early stages, called Snatch. Besides the puzzle and scavenger hunt aspects of Snatch, players will be immersed into an augmented reality with a commercialized, brand name, token-based, application where you can  snatch  items from other players to win prizes.If you do not fully  get it  perhaps the below video can help explain what it s all about.You heard it hear first; if it hasn t happened already, playing Snatch is likely to start at least one physical, real world, fight over the potential of having a prize  snatched  by a player nearby.Immersion, Entertainment & InvestmentAll of the AR/VR technology is still  finding its sea-legs so to speak and is still in transition with more  immersive  worlds. Along the way, AR/VR has been undergoing a natural progression and fusion with the gaming world. Gaming, and entertainment, appears to be the seductive gateway application for AR/VR technology development and profit potential.As games and game consoles have become more immersive over the years, it appears that AR/VR is expected to advance with it.The addictive element to immersive games is often literal in some cases as seen in the WebMD.com article Video Game Addiction No Fun:  The lure of a fantasy world is especially pertinent to online role-playing games. These are games in which a player assumes the role of a fictional character and interacts with other players in a virtual world   [according to Kimberly Young, PsyD] an intelligent child who is unpopular at school can  become dominant in the game.  The virtual life becomes more appealing than real life. Also, let there be little doubt that any psychological aspect of marketing to churn out profit will be used, as the video-gaming world is a 100 billion dollar industry globally. That s hardly child s play.The greater the entertainment immersion and the technological bliss, the bigger  the hook  to the consuming public will become. So despite a slow-yet-increasing public acclimatization with regards to AR/VR, investments keep pouring in.According to Digi-Capital, the investments for AR/VR start-ups in 2016 came in at a cool $2.3 billion dollars.These numbers for start-ups are in addition to previous acquisitions such as Facebooks  Mark Zuckerberg s now famous $2 billion dollar purchase of Oculus Rift.Investments also include such companies as NextVR that can deliver live events in a VR format.  The investors are a  who s who  of present day media empires in the United States.We see the following from nanalyze.com: Laguna Beach California startup NextVR has taken in $115 million in funding so far from investors that include Time Warner, Comcast, and The Madison Square Garden Company. In addition to these strategic investors, FOX Sports, Live Nation, NBC Sports, HBO/Golden Boy, Turner Sports, and CNN have all partnered with NextVR .The object for up-and-running companies like Next VR, or their investor Live Nation, is to bring entertainment events such as concerts or sporting events to the masses.In addition to the actual gate at a sporting event or concert of say, 50,000 people, you could also charge a virtual gate, if you will, for another million people who were never even there.Another company starting to make some real world profits is Utah s THE VOID.  The company is in continually advancing their Dream Park in Utah.  They have themed virtual reality (or hyper reality as they refer to it) type of  experiences  in New York and Dubai.Below is a trailer for their Ghostbusters hyper-reality experience in New York City.That s right   you too can don a nuclear power pack and save New York from the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.To be fair, besides entertainment purposes, there will be benefits of AR/VR technology. Uses for design, training, and experimentation within a multitude of industries, science, and research and development, can all be enabled by VR. Medical students can practice on  fake  patients, soldiers can train in virtual combat with no casualties, researchers can get inside of a molecule, designers or architects can better visualize or display their concepts, and so on.For example, in April 2016, the United Kingdom s Medical Realities used its product The Virtual Surgeon, which is a  learning program   developed for head mounted displays such as the Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR . The live-stream was a first of its kind showing a live surgery allowing for a 360 degree view, and was witnessed live in places as far as China and Tunisia according to their site.Virtual Medicine (Image Source: Medical Realities)The other side of the AR/VR coinKeep in mind, however, that there this is likely a trade off for well-intentioned purposes realized by the implementation and advancement of AR/VR. These same advancements in AR/VR will also almost undoubtedly have profit, control, surveillance, and culture-shaping, as drivers for its very implementation and integration to our lives.AR/VR, like art, books, pamphlets, magazines, newspapers, graffiti, radio, television, and the internet, is a medium which can be utilized. With social norms, economies, and forms of government to influence the masses thrown into as variables, the acclimatization to AR/VR by society is likely to be many things to many people.  Even today, we have News and Fake News. President; not my President. Facts and Alternate Facts.  All of these types of psychological shaping of reality could be further jammed into Virtual Reality.Even within education. Subjective topics, or viewpoints on historical events made to be realistic for experiential learning purposes could be abused. No different then a book or website, a VR lesson will have an author, a bias, and will be an area rife with the potential for politicization or propaganda infusion.Like motor vehicles or smart devices above, AR/VR also has society-changing potential. The possibilities for mass-level use, consumption, and integration of virtual technology could very well change our reality; literally and figuratively; shared and personal. The implications go beyond the industry and commercial implications of its use and delve into what makes us human and into what is real.We hear it all the time, but social engineering is what it sounds like.  The direct implication of the phrase is that aspects of society can be engineered and designed towards a desired effect or result.The outcome desired for those at the top of our current power structures and institutions might entail use of technology to socially engineer with a nefarious slant: to conform the masses, infuse propaganda, create thoughtless compliance, and degrade critical thinking in favor of living a blissful other life, elsewhere in another digital reality.As the great celluloid philosopher, Morpheus, from the Hollywood blockbuster The Matrix, once pondered,  What is real?  How do you define  real ?  If you re talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see  then  real  is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain. Might the world literally become whatever anyone wants to make of it?Are we choosing for ourselves, or are we all merely like  fish in the ocean  being swept up unawares in a tide of social engineering?A technologically controlled, artificial, designed, and immersive environment could possibly redefine reality, and what it means to be human along with it.READ MORE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY: 21st Century Wire Technology Files US_News
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TEXT: mass integration the race capitalize virtual futurerandy johnson century wiredigital technology increasingly exponentially become part lives virtual worlds reality humanity known millennia appear paths will humanity digital reality path integration collision course while direct application virtual reality difficult see everyday life following hollywood film lawnmower man reality technology coming reality virtual reality technology also interchangeably known either ideas hammered digital sphere regards concepts applications use along steady advancement digital computing power future might better portrayed certain episodes black mirror fifteen million merits latest black mirror latest season episode a perception reality image source polygon the possibility potential technology made magnet investment there profits made growing realm implications emerging technologies could humanity leaving current developments technology let take quick look historically new technologies part real world everyday lives smartphone motor smartphone stratosphereon one hand smart phone merely synthetic material touch screens circuitry now less two decades whose daily lives hindered without one the attachment almost emotional literal instances many need communicate entertained figure purchase products even socially interact others avatars others to many teenagers across world generation y millennials smartphone always argued society whole becoming dependent addicted smartphones smart devices in fact billion smartphone subscriptions world wide corporations marketers counting person interacting number devices garner much second look oftentimes person without smart phone person stands crowd sometimes seen reading one archaic things call book it commonplace people interact thousands different applications countless versions technological not take physical work travel also oblivious journey along way well work involved make happen image source after generations many technologies simply become integrated they become part us lives part real comparative analysis let take look evolution another technology motor vehicle from engines electrician roughly years humanity essentially integrated motorized vehicle technology the motor vehicle industries come shaped world know vehicle everything comes design manufacture delivery sale gas oil production road ways traffic laws law enforcement theft accidents smog fighting oil resources effected nearly sales pitch appeal motor vehicle always gone together from early days advertisements automobiles marketed promise freedom open road in fact evolution vehicular technology good indicator specific type technology transform humanity short amount time technological bliss a promise open roads freedom image source the promise anything good always seems catch ease movement automobile without environmental impact without automobile particular would terms gridlock traffic jam road rage without side effects image source the motor vehicle technology part world extent dependent environmental health concerns gas oil extraction production well geopolitical maneuvering even warfare based assumed resource scarcity deep infrastructure roots dependence commerce place to stop flow motor vehicles would inhibit freedom people travel commute work utterly stop industry commerce automobilethe current transition gasoline engines hybrid fully electric ones evolution technology while electric car technology believed discovered recently made inroads industry potentially large scale roadster tesla tesla model s manufacturer suggested retail price mrsp dollars recent us real median family income listed success tesla amount established gas oil engine automakers lining diversify portfolio consumers list bmw dimer mercedes ford general motors honda kia mitsubishi nissan volkswagen volvo hybrid electric car lines after decades profit industry giants wait show consumer environmentally conscious likewise consumer appears ready accept guilt free environmentally responsible driving electric car continues improve lowers price becomes widely patterns technologywith many integrated technologies lives smart devices motor vehicles feels like seen pattern technology new next commercials industry education systems entertainment pop culture government conspire get action time race integrate capitalize technology name progress induce gold rush type feeding frenzy then corporations already ready capital assets resources bounce next big thing and finally generation different improvements variations hard remember world without said technology inherit world whether real imagined becomes likely integration virtual reality augmented reality daily lives likely follow pattern technological advances similarly regards forecasting future integration lives saying follow money though exactly currently understood augmented reality ar uses world around device introduces virtual items characters real world person interacts this popularly seen downloadable application smart phones game pok mon reality vr visually often audible immersed put similar gear oculi rift vive whole virtual technologies primed upward economic forecasting always exact science monetary forecast technology seems point wire notes worldwide revenues augmented reality virtual reality market reach billion increase billion spent spending expected accelerate next several years achieving compound annual growth rate car forecast period totaling billion it important note figures amounts projected spent companies advance technology so expectation profit likely sound for real world success story regards emerging technologies terms profit pok mon go done crashed estimates pok mon go made gigantic million dollars pok mon go barometer future profits potential huge especially consider gaming world many already considered outdated requiring updates fixes new features many users if pok mon go calls career fortune already scavenger hunts fun that kind money already inspired similar styled game early stages called snatch besides puzzle scavenger hunt aspects snatch players immersed augmented reality commercialized brand name application snatch items players win fully get perhaps video help explain heard hear first happened already playing snatch likely start least one physical real world fight potential prize snatched player entertainment investmentall technology still finding speak still transition immersive worlds along way undergoing natural progression fusion gaming world gaming entertainment appears seductive gateway application technology development profit games game consoles become immersive years appears expected advance addictive element immersive games often literal cases seen article video game addiction no fun the lure fantasy world especially pertinent online games these games player assumes role fictional character interacts players virtual world according kimberly young psy intelligent child unpopular school become dominant game the virtual life becomes appealing real life also let little doubt psychological aspect marketing chun profit used world billion dollar industry globally that hardly child greater entertainment immersion technological bliss bigger hook consuming public become so despite public acclimatization regards investments keep pouring investments came cool billion numbers addition previous acquisitions facebook mark zuckerberg famous billion dollar purchase oculi also include companies next deliver live events vr format the investors present day media empires united see following laguna beach california startup next taken million funding far investors include time warner comcast the madison square garden company in addition strategic investors fox sports live nation nbc sports boy turner sports cnn partnered next object companies like next vr investor live nation bring entertainment events concerts sporting events addition actual gate sporting event concert say people could also charge virtual gate another million people never even company starting make real world profits utah the void the company continually advancing dream park utah they themed virtual reality hyper reality refer type experiences new york trailer ghostbusters experience new york right nuclear power pack save new york giant stay put marshmallow fair besides entertainment purposes benefits technology uses design training experimentation within multitude industries science research development enabled vr medical students practice fake patients soldiers train virtual combat casualties researchers get inside molecule designers architects better visualize display concepts example april united kingdom medical realities used product the virtual surgeon learning program developed head mounted displays oculi rift samsung gear vr the first kind showing live surgery allowing degree view witnessed live places far china tunisia according medicine image source medical realities the side coinkeep mind however likely trade purposes realized implementation advancement these advancements also almost undoubtedly profit control surveillance drivers implementation integration like art books pamphlets magazines newspapers graffiti radio television internet medium utilized with social norms economies forms government influence masses thrown variables acclimatization society likely many things many people even today news fake news president president facts alternate facts all types psychological shaping reality could jammed virtual within education subjective topics viewpoints historical events made realistic experiential learning purposes could abused no different book website vr lesson author bias area rife potential politicization propaganda motor vehicles smart devices also potential the possibilities use consumption integration virtual technology could well change reality literally figurative shared personal the implications go beyond industry commercial implications use delve makes us human hear time social engineering sounds like the direct implication phrase aspects society engineered designed towards desired effect outcome desired top current power structures institutions might entail use technology socially engineer nefarious slant conform masses infused propaganda create thoughtless compliance degrade critical thinking favor living blissful life elsewhere another digital great cellulose philosopher amorphous hollywood blockbuster the matrix wondered what real how define real if talking feel smell taste see real simply electrical signals interpreted brain might world literally become whatever anyone wants make are choosing merely like fish ocean swept unaware tide social engineering a technologically controlled artificial designed immersive environment could possibly redefine reality means human along more about technology century wire technology files us_news