From: Kevin O'Donnell Subject: PHIL: Is 'Perfect Simulation' a Useful Goal? Date: Mon, 22 Feb 1993 23:12:06 CST 1) As has been stated by a number of people, for many applications of VR perfect simulation of reality will be unnecessary or undesirable. I would agree that simulation indistinguishable from reality is not the ultimate goal of VR. It doesn't have to be Nature, it just has to feel natural. 2) Pursuing _better_ simulation of reality, however, seems like one of the useful short term objectives for several reasons. Some applications will _require_ a high level of accurate simulation (for example the many and varied training _simulators_) People have pointed out that in other applications it will be desirable to "break the rules" of this world/reality. Others have mentioned that the world doesn't have to be "real", as long as it is a good, intuitive interface. I couldn't agree more, but remember that many of our intuitions (upon which our intuitive interface will be based) are based on our familiarity with "reality". I think it would be better to use "reality" as a starting point and break the rules selectively than to start from Chaos and work up (a fun pastime, but maybe an obstacle when you have something you want to do _now_). Til Later, Kevin ------------------------------------------------------------------- | Kevin O'Donnell | | | Nuclear Medicine Dept. |' You cannot achieve the impossible | | Nasu Works, Toshiba Corp. | without attempting the absurd. ' | | kevino@nm.nasu.toshiba.co.jp | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed are mine, not Toshiba's.