Do we really know who are facebook friends are, our myspace friends, or any other social network friends? When we follow blogs and interact with the authors, what type of human interaction do we really get from that experience? How addicted are we to this new reality, the metaverse? In Asia, facebook is trying to figure out how to make its site more user friendly for the Asian demographic. Many of the users use alias so that they won’t have to reveal themselves completely.
In an article posted by Matthew Gilbert on noetic.org, he had an excerpt from a report that stated:
“Most importantly for each of us, at this pivotal moment in human history, there are unique opportunities for enlightened corporate, political, and social leadership in Metaverse exploration and development.”
How far do we really want to submerge not only ourselves into the metaverse as individuals, but also our future jobs? Philip Rosedale would say completely. Rosedale is the creator of Second Life. Second Life is an online community were people can either create themselves honestly and openly, or create their fantasy selves. Rosedale doesn’t want you to think Second Life is a game, but as new reality of interacting with people across the world. When Second Life first came along many advertisers and companies tried to break in to the reality commerce to beef up revenue for themselves, but that plan busted. There are some things that I assume will never work in the metaverse.
Second Life is an immersive 3D universe. Many companies are now turning to Second Life to conduct meetings and meet new clients across the globe. IBM is one of those companies. The pros of working in this new virtual reality format are the cut in costs of travel, food, etc. But where is the line crossed with this tool? There isn’t any human connection that is getting made, a connection that not only bonds a deal with more sentiment but also a life experience unjustly ‘stolen’ in my opinion. One of the downfalls of the use of Second Life for IBM is there office campus is completely deserted. A campus that use to have thousands of workers coming in to work is almost empty.
Does this new reality making being alone more bearable, “We’re all out there on the internet alone. Or are we out there on the internet alone together?”
Jeremy Bailenson is currently conducting tests to see how the human mind reacts to the physical interaction of being in a virtual reality setting and how it can physically make people feel hunger, being full, confidence, etc. One experiment he conducted involved children at the young ages of 2-3 being placed within a virtual reality setting swimming with killer whales. The children later in life would believe that they had these life experiences of swimming with these whales. Bailenson concluded that many children associated the virtual realm as our physical reality when asked about those experiences.
Another advancement in the virtual reality is treating soldiers who have PTSD from the Middle East War. Psychologists have been amazed on how they watch their patients who are soldiers interacting with scenarios that show what they’re going through physically and emotionally at their most stressed moment. The army uses virtual reality as a tool for pilots that fly drones in the Middle East from the safety of our soil as well. To ensure that the pilots realize that they are still fighting a war they are made to dress in their uniforms to be in the mindset mentally and physically. It has had a huge cut back at the loss of American lives. The only con to this virtual reality tool is the feeling of detachment to the place, the constant need to think in “theater,” and the pilots are still getting diagnoses of PTSD.
A feel like this advancement on technology can be very useful with the treatment of soldiers with PTSD, connecting with a loved one that’s far away, and getting the chance to meet someone new in the comfort of your home. But where does this advancement stop? It seems the more we become connected to these virtual reality devices in our every day the more inhuman we become. This is what it all boils down to for me; we’re trying to create these human connections in an inhuman environment.
Online:
http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/technology/internet/when-virtual-reality-becomes-real-1.1023513
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