Why I Will Wear an Oculus Rift Continuously for an Entire Year
Why I Will Wear An Oculus Rift Continuously For An Entire Year

      
          
        
            
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

    
            
    
      
        Ross Phernetton
    
  
        
      
        
        

        
          
          
              
          
        Troy Hitch
      
      
          
        
          
            
        Troy Hitch
      
          
          

            
              
            Global CCO at Omnicom/RAPP
                
            


              
                
          Published Jan 6, 2015
      
              
        

          
      
    
      
      
      
              As a thought leader, speculatist and acclaimed thought leader, I have a professional obligation to experiment with technology and pioneer the digital wilds. Over the years, I've learned that it is only when I am completely connected can I assimilate the most important information so that I may most effectively disseminate it to you. So, I've made one very deliberate New Year's resolution this year: to become a more connected digital citizen. And to that end, I've committed to continuously wear my Oculus Rift Development Kit throughout 2015. 
   
  Once I strap on the virtual reality goggles this morning during the CES 2015 kickoff, I will not remove them until December 31, 2015. You can read about the logistical challenges here, but you're probably asking, "why?" What would drive me to do something so radically innovative? The technical challenges alone will have a massive impact on my ability to provide leadership with my thoughts, not to mention the strain on my personal relationships and, according to my family physician, "a strong likelihood of irreparable damage" to my eyes. Why be so fearlessly forward-thinking? 
  1. When We Concede Reality, We Gain ControlIf social media has taught us anything, the more we distance ourselves from the reality of our everyday lives, the more control we have over our personal equity and, ultimately our reality: our reputation, our value, our intellect, our relevance to the rest of humankind–we can control our story. I believe that a me in the Rift has the power to be perceived as an exponentially more innovative thought leader, a better father and husband, a more considerate and virile lover–with and to whomever I find in there. 
  2. Humans Are In Alpha ReleaseI believe that we live in a perpetual "alpha release" condition. The human species has so much untapped potential, but we are limited by this inherently buggy state which makes us feature-incomplete. Technology is the patch that we need to propel ourselves into full gold master production, and I don't want to live another day as an unconnected, unpatched human. 
  3. It's My Virtual Manifest DestinyEver since my first reading of Neuromancer nearly thirty years ago, I've dreamt of the day I would slip the surly bonds of reality and permanently install myself into a Gibsonian "Matrix". I then discovered Snow Crash and revised my as-of-yet-unrealized history, certain that I belonged in a Stephensonian "Metaverse". And it was my unlikely stumbling upon of Disclosure that I best understood my true potential calling: a life inside a Crichtonian virtual library, guided by a wise-cracking "angel", collecting evidence to discredit a reverse gender discrimination lawsuit. Technology has finally caught up with my favorite authors' visions and Oculus Rift represents my trial run toward an inevitable future as a thought leader in some Authorian virtual universe. 
  4. Neil deGrasse TysonI am incredibly inspired by that thing he said in that tweet. 
  5. I'm Experiencing A Massive Midlife CrisisAt 44 years old, I'm highly susceptible to irrational thoughts about "blowing my world up", leasing a sports car and starting over. Virtually enacting that sort of delusional self-destruction in the Rift makes it less likely that real people will be emotionally injured in the process. 
  I'm excited to begin this adventure and I hope you will join me. Please find me at CES–I most assuredly will not be able to find you–or visit The Hypermutable Future for more updates as well as industry-leading thought leadership. 
  Speculatist, author, keynote speaker, award-winning filmmaker, entrepreneur and Chief Innovation Officer Troy Hitch explores the consumer trends, business innovations and technological breakthroughs defining the next evolution of humankind.
 

                      
  
    
  
            
    
    

    
      
      

    
    
    
    
    
    

    
  
  
               
    

    
    

          
            
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