The trouble, and this is way philosophical, has been touched on more times than a ... well, let's just keep going... the real trouble is when it's not virtual reality but different reality. Virtual reality means a reality that is distinctly different from the, and here I quote, "Real world." The thing about a direct neural stimulation is that it's pretty much gonna be impossible to tell it apart from reality, if that's what the person making the thing wants and if tht's whaat the market demands.
I ask you, and yes this is related, what's the point of rendering graphically every single blade of gras in a field. What is the point in making blood splatters so realistic that they look identical to real life? I don't know, but that's what the graphics enthusiasts want. Environments that are entirely manipulatable, entirely destructive, and entirely too real. I'm not just talking about the nutballs who are unbalanced. I'm talking about pretty much anyone who calls themself a gamer. There's no going back to the old days of crap graphics. Eventually, our own high performance technology will be old news, and the graphics might just look real enough that they jump out and get you, but it's still just a picture on a screen, but what happens when the graphics are generated by the world's most advanced, most complicated, and most versitile computer, the human brain itself. I'm not talking about something we have now, but isn't it possible that the reality device we eventually construct can find the neurons which contain the smell for, say, apple pie, and they trigger those neurons. You don't think you smell apple pie or want to smell apple pie, you actually smell it. At that point, if the person generates their own reality, then that is their reality. This is hugely philosophical and wildly off topic, especially considering that the device that these university reserchers have made is essentially a glorified body motion tracker, but it is worth considering. We all assume that the person will be able to tell the difference between reality and the game world, but when that difference is more conceptual than psychological, who will want to leave a world in which they and their friends are popular, important, heroic, handsome, wealthy, powerful, and so forth. It's not a question of being balanced or unbalanced. People respond to positive stimuli by doing whatever it is that stimulates them more. Drugs, sex, rock and roll, running, eating chocolate, what ever you want to point to, it's all reinforced by reactions in the mind and in the brain, and the impressive array of awesomeness which is a main character in a game is, beyond question, a strong positive reinforcement. That's why games are addictive. Sure, they're an escape, but they're only an escape because they're so addictive. That's why more people ply games than enter sensory deprivation tanks. I hope you guys enjoyed this rambling wayword post. Signed: Dakotah Rickard On 7/26/12, Thomas Ward <thomasward1...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Cara, > > Exactly my point. People seriously need to try enjoy the life they > have, deal with their problems in a mature and meaningful manner, and > not try and use games as a substitute for life. Games, although fun > and entertaining, are only a temporary pass time and nothing more. No > matter how addictive virtual reality gaming may be it is no more and > no less than a temporary pass time and often a poor substitute for > reality. > > For example, in theory someone could fill a giant pool or tub full of > water, warm it to 75 degrees, put on a pair of V.R. goggles, and jump > in. The V.R. goggles might give him/her the simulation of swimming in > the ocean while the tub of water gives him/her the physical sensation > of being underwater. However, realistic it might seem it still would > be a fake. It would be far more rewarding in the long run to travel to > the beach, rent a wetsuit and tanks, and go swimming in the ocean. The > experience of seeing it firsthand really and truly blows away any > virtual reality experience man could ever create. > > Like I said earlier the people who spend almost all their time playing > games have no lives. They don't know how to enjoy the life they have. > There are many things more satisfying such as hiking, swimming, > playing a musical instrument, whatever that are more satisfying if you > just do them rather than pretending to do them in a game world. > > I'm sure some virtual reality experiences have their place. A person > might get on a treadmill and put on a V.R. helmet to simulate walking > through the woods, mountains, etc while they walk the treadmill. Its > alright, might help a person pass the time, but I'd prefer going to > the location and walking it in reality than via some V.R. helmet. To > me V.R. still would only be a cheap substitute for the real thing. > > Cheers! > > > On 7/26/12, Cara Quinn <caraqu...@caraquinn.com> wrote: >> Well-said Thomas! I heard a funny quote once which said basically, 'Go >> outside, the graphics are amazing!' lol! >> >> So I personally think we need to enjoy life. Enjoy the one we have before >> we >> try to make another one. :) This one is a huge gift so get up, get >> outside >> get with each other and have some big fun! :) >> >> Moving through this life can be as much fun, and much much cooler than >> any >> game. -Know what I mean? It's all in how you make it. :) >> >> Anyway, blah blah blah -just my two cents. >> >> Have an awesome day and hope I didn't take this one too far OT. >> >> Smiles, >> >> Cara :) > > --- > Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org > If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to > gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. > You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at > http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. > All messages are archived and can be searched and read at > http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. > If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, > please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org. > --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
