From: leonar1@SERVER.uwindsor.ca (LEONARD ROSS             )
Subject: Re: PHIL: Dreams and VR
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 93 1:45:14 EST


> 
> From: marsh@dcs.qmw.ac.uk
> Subject: Re: PHIL: Dreams and VR
> Date: Mon, 15 Feb 93 16:07:45 GMT
> 
> 
> >
> > The point is that if the "reality" is SUPPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE BRAIN,
> > rather than having to worm its way past our sense organs then it will
> > seem much more "real", maybe to the point of being indistinguishable
> > from "real reality" (see recent thread on fooling users etc.).
> >
> > Chris Hand, Lecturer                Internet mail: cph@dmu.ac.uk
> > Dept of Computing Science,          Voice: +44 533 551551 x8476
> > De Montfort University, The Gateway,  Fax: +44 533 541891  FIDOnet: 2:440/32.5
> 0
> > LEICESTER, UK   LE1 9BH             >> Linux: *free* unix for IBM PCs! <<
> >
> 
> Sorry Chris, but I simply don't agree.
> 
> Which other way do we experience reality than through our senses?
> 'Real reality' we perceive through our eyes, our ears, through touch,
> taste and smell. Why should we by-pass such amazingly accute senses that
> have developed over thousands of years?
> 
> --
> Pete Marshall (marsh@dcs.qmw.ac.uk),
> Department of Computer Science, QMW, University of London.
> 
  I would have to agree with Pete. Even experiences such as those you described
(a sense of oncoming spring, etc.) are only a very complex interleaving of 
sensory data from our sensory organs. If these "feelings" are functional
aspects of our sensory system, then re-creating them in VR would, in fact, not
be that much more difficult than creating realistic, singular sensory inputs.

  I believe that the real hurdle in attaining an absolute re-creation of 
reality, one in which the sensory input is equal to that of "real reality", is
the cognitive aspect of knowing that one is in an artificially creative world.
When a person is interacting within a virtual world, but is conscious of that
fact, that person experiences being in an artificially created world. Only when
the distinction is lost, ie: when the person "forgets" that he/she is in an
artificially created world, will that person gain a "total" experience from
their actions.


Ross Leonard (leonar1@server.uwindsor.ca)
Dept. of Geography, Urban Planning, University of Windsor.