Q: Does virtual reality allow for a full extent of free will, will it, does it allow more?
A: By definition in the readings, virtual reality allows the viewer or user to manipulate his/her POV and undergo an immersion with the actual technology. I would agree that once said person is engaged in a virtual reality tutorial, such as a video game, that person does exercise some free will in a limited forum. True, you dictate how you experience the simulation (i.e. you choose to view the virtual world upside down), but you do not control the setting or alter the program itself. Although virtual reality tries to emulate physical control, it lacks the ability to utilize all of the five senses, namely smell, taste & touch. Also, in the case where the user must react to instinct such as fight or flight tactics, he/she realizes right away that there is no actual need to fear or fight whatever obstacle stands in his/her way. The sympathetic and parasympathetic aspects of the nervous system are not fully stimulated. In order for virtual reality to enable full-extent of free will, it must be as intimate with the senses as possible & cause natural reactions to the situations presented.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Totally. However, how far off is virtual reality from utilizing all five senses. Okay maybe it's not a virtual smell but how hard is it to add aroma to a virtual environment. Aroma is... to what I recall, is what primarily defines taste. This is what comes to mind when I think of smell:
ReplyDelete"The aroma was uncanny, almost miraculous -- as if someone in the room were flipping burgers on a hot grill. But when I opened my eyes, I saw just a narrow strip of white paper and a flavorist with a grin."
http://www.rense.com/general7/whyy.htm
Just an excerpt from Fast Food Nation.
So we've two senses covered.
Touch-what about just small electric pulses or even to cover all three, what about some kind of charge to the brain. Think about during brain accidents or surgeries where people claim that they can smell flowers or other things that simply are not in the area or recall past experiences or touch or claim to feel them now even though not in the room.
My guess is that this is certainly possible at some point in the future.
I don't know what this does for free will but it makes for an interesting conversation.