I do not quite understand what the SimulaVR will exactly be, and of the little I see I am skeptical (e.g. screen renderings in perspective through a presumably limited resolution display; VR instead of AR but input from a camera to make the environment somehow visible in case, etc.), but:
having spent many hours working (in some way) with an AR headset (Epson Moverio, 1280x720 Si-OLED displaying with transparent black an Android system), I can say the experience can be very rewarding - of course if you use the tool for what it can be good for -, but among the evident shortcomings is the lack of a good input method. If you were dictating through a microphone and had an excellent speech-to-text system, and if there existed a more precise and comfortable pointer than the touchpad (maybe gesticulating in the air - but would that be less straining than a mouse device?), it would probably be a greater revolution with many more usage cases.
But without an input system that rivals a keyboard, the main use to me is that of reading and of using software which I optimized for the use of the embedded dpad.
I tend to agree but there is a chance that a normal keyboard and the camera pointing down at it will be enough to make you comfortable typing. I believe this is what they aim for, but it is yet to be proven effective.
But with the need to use a physical keyboard, placed somewhere, you would lose the advantage of being freely moving in space - and with that you would have lost pretty much all advantage, because if you were stuck to a desk, then desk equipment (monitors etc.) remains optimal.
Fair point but I envision more like: I sit in my kitchen table or a coffee shop with a small keybotd and mouse and I experience a multimonitor setup, always the same.
Not something like: I am floating mid air on my skidive and I'll fix a couple of bugs :)
While air diving I would enjoy it with focus while it lasts, but while walking in open nature I consult my informational, "virtual", displayed material and take a break from time to time to switch focus and enjoy the colours of the season :) ...Which by the way, are quite nice to enjoy as the background of the material you have in front. Also because with the AR headset you will keep your head oriented towards spots that enhance the readability of the foreground, so somehow you are dealing with nature even more.
Instead, if you were at a coffee shop - are you sure you would not be more comfortable and efficient with a laptop? Because the optimal case I can think of is: AR (transparency-based) eyeset, big between sunglasses and skiing goggles, that you do not remove but wear also while walking - so, something always-on, something you do not alternatively extract and put away... The main control (dpad, mousepad, buttons - and the SOC and power of course) in your pocket. But you need a good input method for text.
Always-on with good input method for text seems better than laptop. Otherwise, if you remain keyboard dependent, the laptop is probably better.
having spent many hours working (in some way) with an AR headset (Epson Moverio, 1280x720 Si-OLED displaying with transparent black an Android system), I can say the experience can be very rewarding - of course if you use the tool for what it can be good for -, but among the evident shortcomings is the lack of a good input method. If you were dictating through a microphone and had an excellent speech-to-text system, and if there existed a more precise and comfortable pointer than the touchpad (maybe gesticulating in the air - but would that be less straining than a mouse device?), it would probably be a greater revolution with many more usage cases.
But without an input system that rivals a keyboard, the main use to me is that of reading and of using software which I optimized for the use of the embedded dpad.