Some device forms, no matter how old, only pick up steam when a new generation of people get access. Teens (and younger) with VR rigs cheap enough to be common holiday gifts could be a larger wave of active enthusiasts than we've seen before. That's happening now.
XR glasses for kids have a long way to go because have you seen how hard kids are on basic glasses? As long as XR glasses cost as much as a nice holiday gift, few parents will buy several pairs each year as they break and are lost.
https://www.theverge.com/column/842359/vr-teens-gaming

Nice aspects of my used van*:
- no cloud subscription
- no GPS logs for dealerships to read
- reasonably capable airbags and crumples
- manufactured before pandemic shortages
- one non-rental, fleet, careful owner
- parts and mechanics all over N. America
- small enough to fit down many dirt tracks
- discourages rough track hubris
- doesn't attract attention** in town
- came with a tough & springy floor pad
- fun modder community and parts
- fewer*** rich assholes than in spendy vans
- provides many comfy nooks for smols' naps
- most maintenance docs online or wild PDF
- metric body fasteners
- adaptive cruise control****

* 2020 AWD w/LSD Ford Transit 250 cargo
** if I wash off the mud
*** but not none. It's never none.
**** I'm now annoyed by non-adaptive CC

I want my van windows to have that film that snaps between clear and frosted.
There's also a film that makes it more hassle to gain entrance by smashing the glass so as long as I'm dreaming I also want that.
I'll make my own HUD, tho.
#vanBuild

@mcdanlj Cool! That looks like it would be easy pack and deploy.

A hearty "fuck off" to anyone who tries to shame us for continuing to use devices that work instead of wasting money and resources chasing a bullshit future.
Also, I resent the use of "device hoarding" to describe rational purchasing because I know many accomplished hoarders of devices and it's not the same thing at all.

Groggy morning thought: A smokeless fire pit that looks like a trashcan Mac Pro.

I suspect most employees wouldn't notice. Which board will be first to make this choice?
https://replaceyourboss.ai/

I currently use a Clever Dripper to brew coffee but it's plastic and eventually it'll break, either through age or my clumsiness.
I've thought about machining a metal equivalent but I'd rather have something that uses a metal mesh instead of a paper filter. I like the oils that paper removes.
So, I was interested to learn about the Hoop brewer: https://youtu.be/-g_Bcng41Js
I think I could modify the design to use a mesh filter and still be easy to clean by tapping out the puck and then rinsing with water. In metal, I think it could last a lifetime or two.

Building a little workshop into a camper van brings up some funny design constraints. Every kg burns more fuel and eats into my overall weight budget.
In a stationary shop I use weights (as pictured) for glue-ups, to tune machine balance, and for a variety of other situations but it feels silly to carry objects whose entire purpose is to be heavy.

What would you bring?

me: ebike batteries are fire hazards
/me installs chonko RV batteries under bed