Link Start
What if you could do anything? Be anyone? Live any life?
This could be the future. Virtual reality to the point of singularity (the merge between digital and physical).Currently, virtual reality attempts are menial at best. Starting with the Oculus Rift, “virtual reality” became commercially available. Now, with the creation of the Playstation VR, Google Glasses, the Microsoft HoloLens and multiple mobile attempts, virtual reality is easily available, for the right price. This technology, however, only can emulate visual effects and sounds, and although companies continue to try to improve the technology, we are still a long way off from a full dive.
Having technology that could completely override the senses to create a virtual experience may seem sci-fi, but then again, so did space travel to our ancestors. Although the technology might not be up to par yet, our brains already have the basis for VR – Dreams. In a dream, you can swim, run, fly, and fall, vividly feeling each sensation, but yet remaining rather still in your comfy bed. In the past, it has seemed that unfortunately full dive VR would be impossible due to the complexity of the brain and the distinction between man and machine, but with the introduction of a neural lace able to merge with the brains of mice this year, we are closer to the singularity than ever before.
When people hear of the possibility of virtual reality, the common reaction is a mix of excitement and fear. Having seen The Matrix, or just about any other sci-fi movie featuring virtual reality, people have learned to fear the idea of others taking control of the virtual reality while they stay trapped in a false world or video game unable to escape. This seems to be a worse case scenario, but some people do hold true that the risk is too great. Some people would fear what humanity would become if this technology were available; would each person simply hide in a virtual life, ignoring reality in favor of fiction? VR would, after all, be the ultimate form of escapism. But is even this such a danger? Imagine a paraplegic man who has gone blind due to damage of the eyes. All of a sudden, he can run and see while playing in a virtual world. Even a cancer patient in extreme pain could find solace as the VR system could override the sensation of pain. But the problem arises when we think of the young college student, destined for greatness, who discovers VR and throws his life away. Instead of becoming the doctor who cures cancer, he is a level 99 paladin in a virtual MMO, who has a job just good enough to pay the bills for his digital life. It may seem like an illogical thing to do, but what would you rather do: live a life of hard work every day hoping that eventually you make a difference, or, instead, live a life of adventure? Those who have purpose in Christ have a hope of a better world after death, but for all others, they only know of this world, that many, unfortunately, loathe. Such escapism is more tempting in this case.
Ultimately, such issues are now only theoretical, but we may all one day be faced with such a dilemma, continue living here in a real world of boring 9-5 jobs and frozen meals, or seemingly waste our lives on a world of fun, excitement, dreams, and fiction.
“Captain Pike has an illusion, and you have reality. May you find your way as pleasant.” -Star Trek, “The Menagerie”
