Any ever have trouble "selling" the idea of VR to non-techy or absent minded people?

[Rayvolution]

(Disclaimer, this was originally posted in this thread, but I thought it would make a good topic of it's own so I revised/reposted it!)

I can't tell you how many times I hyped up VR to people, and to
them it's just some dollar store gimmick. Even once they actually use it
they can't quite grasp the full scope of the technology involved to
bring this to life, it's just a "toy". It's like they think I picked it
up at the mall for 30 bucks or something. Honestly, it's almost
insulting.  

It's
usually not until I start explaining the price of entry and why the technology is amazing that they start
taking me more seriously, I'm surprised at how many people think VR is "just another goofy
3d glasses thing", and I'm just crazy for not waiting 6 months for the
price to go down to reasonable levels.

Of course these aren't
your normal tech-interested people, these are mostly just your run of
the mill average people. You know the ones, they're the ones when you
bought your fancy 42" 4k TV for 3 grand they told you you were ripped
off because their 62 inch 720p plasma TV was only $300. Some people are
just absent minded I guess.

I see it a lot in all new technology. There always seems to be a fairly large group of, dare I say, blatantly stupid/willing uneducated people out there who just don't understand the difference between things like a 4k IPS curved Samsung TV and a 720p generic plasma, a Canon 7D SLR Camera and a Kodak Point and Shoot, or the Rift and the 3D glasses you wear to the movies.

Anyway, has anyone else experienced this phenomena? Do you internally-facepalm as much as I do? 🙂

[Zenbane]

I've may some headway with the disinterested with the following exercise:

I have them look away from me, then slowly turn to face me. I then explain that with the Rift it happens the exact same way, only instead of standing here we are in space, and instead of turning to face me, you're facing a larger than life demon that's about to eat your face.

[Percy1983]

I don't seem to have encountered such types yet, many are intrigued and want a go.

Going to get the wife on dreamdeck and henry tonight and see if I can convert her.

[Luciferous]

No most people regardless of technical background...wait what was I saying.

[Rayvolution]

I should probably add, I'm in my early 30s. My "Social Circle" is filled with people ranging from 20 to 50 usually. So unlike the younger guys here, I'm in that weird middle ground age where I can transcend into being friends with people who grew up before technology was every day life yet still relate to the "Teens/Young Adult" groups who live and die by their iPhones. It's possible I am just encountering totally different people than some of you younger guys are. 🙂

Should probably also be noted most of these people I'm using as an example tend to be over 40.

[Anonymous]

My girlfriend was really sceptical of VR, and to be honest probably sick of me talking about it all the time  :# but last night I got my Rift and showed her Dreamdeck, she had a massive smile across her face the entire time and said she couldn't believe how good it was! I think due to her only trying google cardboard she may of thought it would be a 'just more expensive version' of that but didn't expect it to be so compelling! The depth, scale and screen quality stood out the most to her when I asked what was so good about it.

Morale: people just need to actually try it. That's the biggest hurdle at the moment.

[Percy1983]

I am 32 so most of the older are my parents/in-laws. They are a bit 'that's nice dear' but they are all wanting a go.

[Lemming1970]

Rayvolution said:

I should probably add, I'm in my early 30s. My "Social Circle" is filled with people ranging from 20 to 50 usually. So unlike the younger guys here, I'm in that weird middle ground age where I can transcend into being friends with people who grew up before technology was every day life yet still relate to the "Teens/Young Adult" groups who live and die by their iPhones. It's possible I am just encountering totally different people than some of you younger guys are. 🙂

Should probably also be noted most of these people I'm using as an example tend to be over 40.

Steady now, I'm 46 and the biggest geek I know.

The over all price tends to kill it for most people. You say the price of the Rift, People tend to twinge a little, then you mention the top end p.c. needed and.........................you've lost them. 

[mattc1983]

I have nothing but funny looks, scepticism and outright piss taking from everyone I tell about it. But every single person that has tried it has been blown away, and most when I tell them the price, as they all ask after trying, are quite surprised it's so "reasonable"

[VRRabbit]

When I tell people I have a VR headset most respond with a confused look. Even though there has been more exposure in the press about VR, unless your part of the community most people have not ever heard of it. I am not sure how well it will sell retail since it does have a pretty high price tag for off the shelf and not enough mainstream exposure. Especially since in most cases the price tag will require a fair amount of money to upgrade most home computers to run VR properly.