Reality Check - Do we need 4K?

We need 4k, 8k, 16k, 32k, etc. The reason we need these is actually quite simple. Without them, GPU manufacturers such as Nvidia and ATI have no reason to develop high performance hardware that can support say 60fps at ultra settings at such resolutions. Why is that a big deal? Well, because the longer we wait for that tech to become available, the longer we have to wait to experience a truly immersive, indistinguishable from life, Virtual Reality environment. This will also effect the potential of Augmented Reality as we head into the future. Palmer Luckey, the original designer of the Oculus Rift, has stated that even 8k per eye won't be enough for VR. While that might sound ridiculous at first, consider this. If you are in virtual reality, everything may seem wonderful at first glance. However, pick up a book with a really small font, hold it away from your face and try to read it. Without an extremely dense screen, it would be practically impossible. Unfortunately, the pixel density required to achieve that kind of resolution on that size of screen is most likely impossible due to the laws of physics. However, there is already work being done on Virtual Retina Displays, which will basically take low powered lasers and essentially draw images directly onto the retina. Once these displays are available, their will no longer be a need to squeeze higher resolution into smaller screens. That said, the need for hardware capable of rendering the image at such resolutions will still be required.