BLOG POST: MODELING REALITY WITH VIRTUAL WORLDS

When I first heard of the term “virtual reality” images of Zelda came to mind. Those little fairies all over the screen urging me to buy a boomerang or drink this potion or that I had just been severely wounded by an enemy. To me virtual and video games are synonymous. Recently this technology is being applied in various other ways.

According to an article by Dave Itzkoff, "I've been in that club, just not in real life," MTV has created a virtual Lower East Side. With technology mimicking real life, and more specifically the nuances that make a city a certain way, the real deal is starting to look more like a sham. The online replica, although it includes, several landmark parts of the lower east side like "the exterior of Katz's Delicatessen, where I could press my digital nost against its salami- stocked windows, though I couldn't go inside to a fully explorable model of the club Max Fish, complete with a framed photograph of Julio Iglesias." As Itzkoff described his online avatar was able to visit all the lovable places he himself visits in the real world. Its' strange to think that so many of the same landmark locations could be replicated. The only problem is that for first time "visitors" to New York, an online replica wouldn't capture the city's unique energy.

These technologies aren't only being used for entertainment purposes. The article "IBM Learning Programs Ger A Second Life," by Ed Frauenheim described how IBM uses virtual reality programs to help train new employees. The training process can be tedious, expensive and inconvenient for workers, but with a virtual program, the process can be more like a video game. it cane be more interactive and meaningful for future workers. As the article explained" video game play adds a dimension to training because people don't perceive it as learning. That makes them more willing gt take risks and be more flexible in their thinking." Virtual Realities are also an excellent way to help people with disabilities interact with and create relationships with other people. In one particular case as described in the article "I Report: Naughty Auties battle autism with virtual interaction,"
David Savill created a place where individuals with autism could interact to overcome the issues they face. Savill himself suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a disability that prevents him from having the ability to emotionally connect with individuals in social situations. He uses the world of Second Life to connect individuals with autism to those who want to learn about and understand the disorder.

As seen in these articles there are many benefits that include helping those with disabilities overcome their problems, making job- training faster and cheaper and even more fun, exploring cities without the geographic locations and the ability to create friendships by interacting with other virtual avatars. Just like any issue there is also a "dark side" to virtual reality technology. Some people may use the virtual world as an escape. They will never overcome their fears and instead they will become addicted to the virtual world, where life is simpler. Another dark side is the fact that employees using virtual reality technology may become too distracted to actual do their work. Another problem with virtual reality is the fact that people who live in particular ares like the lower east side feel "ripped off." The virtual version doesn't compare to the real thing.

I think these technologies are going to evolve in a whole new way. I think facebook will become a virtual reality. I think that the technology will also include GPS so no matter where you are you will actually be connected. The world will become like a giant battleship board. Our avatars will mimic every action so that our friends and family will know exactly where we are and when. We won't have to update anything because it will already be done. Times are definitely changing.