We live in a world where people have become more and more connected through with the internet coming up. We started being able to send messages to each other over the internet using e mail, later when the quality of our internet connections improved, we could even play games together, without having to physically be anywhere near each other. It seems that around that time, there was a tipping point, where people also started to become more isolated as a result of new technologies. Nowadays someone could literally stay inside their home forever, work from home, order groceries and utilities from home.
Even though this probably sounds like paradise to people who are very introverted, would it be a good idea to push towards a society where this is embraced? This could for example lead to people no longer seeking their own real experiences, because these can be replaced by virtual reality experiences. Personally, I do think virtual reality innovations are very cool, but I see the point Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is making, when saying that virtual reality technology can make users even more isolated and that augmented reality is a better way to move forward. There are a lot of places where augmented reality could be applied to amplify and support communication of thoughts between people, without losing sight of the “real world” with “real people”.
On the other hand however is Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Around the same time as Tim Cook’s statement about virtual reality technology isolating people, Mark Zuckerberg hosted an event, announcing a new Oculus virtual reality headset. This headset is a standalone product that does not require another piece of hardware, like a smartphone or computer to work. This announcement is a building block towards Facebook’s goal to one day get a billion people into virtual reality. So the CEO of Facebook does not think VR is isolating at all. He says people are being limited by their own reality, and that virtual reality is a way to open up experiences to more people, so it would be freeing, instead of isolating.
What do you think about virtual reality? Is it really isolating and if so, is augmented reality the way to go? Let me know in the comments below!
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41590323
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41590202
Hi Romulo, great blog post and thank you for your insights into the topic of virtual reality vs augmented reality!
On the topic of virtual reality potentially isolating people, as Tim Cook stated, I think that it could actually promote interaction between people who would otherwise not be able to meet people or be too scared/introverted to go out and meet people.
A study by Facebook found that participants of the study felt at ease quickly in virtual reality, rather than being confronted with the reality where any failed social interaction could have real consequences. They found that thanks to this fact, 83% of participants in their study wanted to be friends as communication in virtual reality situations fell within the optimal range of cognitive effort.
Thanks to this I truly think virtual reality could be a great opportunity for introverted people to meet other people.
Source for the study:
https://www.facebook.com/iq/articles/how-virtual-reality-facilitates-social-connection
Interesting blog post Romulo!
I understand Tim Cook’s worries about virtual reality being a factor of isolation for people and therefore his preference for augmented reality. However, I believe that virtual reality is quite the opposite from being anti-social. According to Zuckerberg, people ‘are using a very narrow view of the world they’re building when stating that VR is isolating, just because it’s immersive’ (Shinal, 2017). I have to say that I agree with this statement. I often find that people find everything revolving new technologies threatening when it comes to social aspects. We saw the same thing with the rise of social media when a lot of people stated that it will ruin the way people interact with each other. When looking back, I personally believe that the positive aspects of social media outweighed the threats immensely, I feel the same way about VR. It will make the world we live a so much small than it already has become. Telecommuting and truly working together across boundaries will be a lot easier, ultimately bringing us closer together (BBC, 2016). To answer your question, let’s definitely explore VR and all its (social) possibilities!
Sources:
Shinal, J. (2017). Mark Zuckerberg takes on critics who say virtual reality is anti-social. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/12/facebook-still-betting-big-that-future-of-vr-will-be-social.html
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36279855
But what ís a ‘real experience’, or ‘the real world’, with ‘real people’?
For all we know, there is no ‘real world’ at all; this might well be a gigantic computer simulation. Perhaps the ‘real’ you put yourself in a virtual reality simulation, and all that is happening now – including me typing this comment – is part of your simulation. When you ‘die’, you’ll wake up, having spent a fun lifetime in a simulation of your choice. It is an entirely possible scenario.
To us, however, this all is real. I am real. You are real. This world is real, the people are real, and our experiences are real – because we cannot prove whether they are or are not. Reality, thus, is subjective.
Loneliness is an interesting subject. Online friendships differ from physical ones, and without social contact in the physical world, one might feel lonely – would the same not apply to virtual reality? Well, I would argue that online friendships are by no means a weak substitute for physical ones, as it is far easier, online, to open up about things, to be your true self, to ignore gender roles, to speak of deep issues, to be without bigotry, and so on – all things that build a deep and meaningful friendship, possibly moreso than possible, for some, in the physical world.
These two kinds of friendship are not replacements for each other, as both have certain benefits; physical friendships allow one to do things together, such as going to a restaurant, a cinema, or what have you, and they allow one to laugh and interact more directly. One can be lonely if one has no close friends, with whom one can speak of the deepest of things, share one’s every thought without fear of judgement. And so too one can be lonely if one always sits at home, waiting for friends to come online, never able to do something fun together because you live worlds apart.
But if we can perfect virtual reality, if there is nothing different between virtual and ‘actual’ reality, then virtual reality would be a replacement of actual reality, not? You could do everything you could do in actual reality, but then cheaper, faster, easier… Why pay for going to a cinema if you can do so for free in your favourite simulation, one that you made yourself, perhaps even, with all your friends at the very instant you want to?
Yes, I suppose I do see a future wherein many humans lock themselves up in virtual reality, where some even live their entire lives there (or relive their lives, perhaps, or play god, or whatever they wish to do). I do not see why that is bad; it basically allows everyone to be the happiest possible. But this, of course, is a utopian future, where the entire concepts of ‘security’ and ‘economics’ and such have been rendered obsolete.
At any rate, I am always reminded of Dumbledore (from Harry Potter), who says something like: “Of course it is happening inside your head, but why should that mean that it is not real?”
Very interesting post, Romulo!
Both virtual and augmented reality have many very useful pratical applications. Although I have to say, I see them rather applied in professional environments than everyday life.
Virtual reality can (actually already is) be used for e.g. educational purposes, such as training of pilots. They use virtual reality during flight simulations when training how to operate a plane. Two main advantages can be identified in this case as follows:
1. Safety: Virtual reality provides pilot trainees with oportunity to learn how to operate the aircraft without coming into danagerous situations. All possible alternatives from real life can be simulated with literally no risk. Future pilots can gain invaluable experience and see possible occurances that they might face in the future. It is almost self-explanatory how advantageous this is. There are other examples from different trainings where virtual reality comes in handy.
2. Costs: Using the example of pilot trainees again, it is only logical, that using a simulator powered by virtual reality is much less expensive than using only actual aircraft for every training (consider only fuel for example).
Augmented reality, although not equal to virtual reality, also finds many applications in professional environment. Think of a surgeon who could see all the vital functions of his pacient without having to check monitors. Information intensive jobs can be made more efficient using AR that provides the information at the right moment and directly. The subject using AR can concentrate solely on his or her task and AR supports him. Very beneficial, no doubts.
When it comes to our personal lives, VR/AR and social dimension, I am rather sceptical. For sure, they can be used to have fun and relax, even with our friends without meeting them physically. Nevertheless, think of social media and its development. There were many opinions that suggested that social media actually make people more isolated and lonely. To some extent, this might be true, but you have not stopped going out with your friends for a dinner and a beer, right? You still go to parties, spend time with your loved ones, go into nature.
Our reality is so complex and colourful, packed with emotions, that VR or AR cannot come even close to simulate it. Personally, I do not think that they ever will and if I had to pick only one from VR and AR, I would say that AR is much more attractive, because it does not create another reality, but it enhances the true one.