When did the word virtual start to become misused?

When Nintendo’s Virtual Boy failed to deliver. Its 3D capabilities, while rudimentary by today’s standards, were quite capable at the time. But it only had TWO games out of its sad library that made use of the technology. Everything else they made should just have been on another Nintendo console that didn’t feature virtual simulation, but featured more than two colors. When I play Waterworld, I most certainly expect red or black, amirite?

That said, I have no idea, but you certainly have a good point; seems to me that the word virtual is constantly applied to anything that’s an electronic gadget, or when talking about websites. I guess maybe it lost its meaning when virtual simulation stopped being something about faked immersion, and became something normal, like texting and going on Facebook. I denno.

VB and its eye strain, FTW!

What examples are you citing? Virtual is quite the non-specific word, and I’m at a loss for any time I’ve heard it used incorrectly in advertising.

@Smashley Late night infomercials…Sorry but I quickly forget the product after the word virtual is misused… like “destroys virtually all germs”, ect…

You mean virtual as a synonym for almost? Sounds like a correct usage to me.

Actually, the primary definition is ” : being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted <a virtual dictator> ”. So how do you see it being misused?

Merriam Webster

@marinelife Virtually every time.