From: Robert_Grant.LAX1B@xerox.com
Subject: Re: SCI: Rat tests in virtual kitchens
Date: hu, 25 Feb 1993 15:19:58 PST


>>Do you know of any laboratory tests in which a new born
animal infant is connected to virtual environment, in such a
way that makes it unaware of the real, material world?<<

I would be really happy if we could try to keep VR out of the ethical wasteland
of animal experimentation!

Haven't they suffered enough? What are we trying to prove? Why don't we do the
experiments on ourselves, if they (the experiments) are so interesting? Surely
a research scientist would give a much better report on the experience than in
infant rat?

Come on, let's bring VR research into the 20th (maybe 21st?) century!

I'm sorry, I don't want to start a flame war. But I just wanted to let people
here know that not everyone is tacitly for, or accepting of, animal
experimentation. A while back there was some discussion of directly feeding
information into cat brains, which frankly turned my stomach, but I can't just
sit back and say nothing.

I know that many people involved with VR are opposed to using VR for military
purposes (Jaron Lanier is a prominent one I believe) so there is certainly room
for ethical debate about research in, and use of, VR.

IMHO

Robert

RGrant.lax1b@xerox.com

These are my personal observations and do NOT represent a formal position of
Xerox Corp.