Virtuality and Bodies

Once upon a time virtual reality was not much more than a science-fiction term. Many think of a simulation video game system where the player put on a suit and has visuals of the game he/ she is playing. While this is one form of virtual reality, it is not the only kind or the best example. According to Wikipedia, “Virtual reality (VR) is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer-simulated environment, be it a real or imagined one. Most virtual reality environments are primarily visual experiences, displayed either on a computer screen or through special stereoscopic displays, but some simulations include additional sensory information, such as sound through speakers or headphones. Some advanced, hap tic systems now include tactile information, generally known as force feedback, in medical and gaming applications.” Virtuality is not always a complex facemask, with crazy special effects. It is often something as simple as a virtual pen on a design program. Today, virtual reality is the new reality. Everything is being done virtually today from business to actually living in a virtual world. What used to be done in reality is now being done through bodies and systems of virtuality. While we do still use the post office, Emailing has taken over in many respects as far as day-to-day communication. The Internet is the largest virtual system known to date and has endless virtual possibilities.
Since virtuality touches every aspect of modern society there are obviously benefits to doing things the virtual way. The biggest and most obvious benefit is the convenience of doing things the virtual way. It is also often the most cost effective option. For example, a virtual store has a lot cheaper upkeep than a physical store where rent needs to be paid on a monthly basis. While the virtual world has many draws it also has its limitations. Virtual reality is not reality. It is a simulation of what reality is. Virtual reality cannot give you the authentic experience that you get when you are in the real world. While computer graphics on gaming are always improving, they will never be the same as the real thing.
Reality allows us to use all five of our senses when we have an experience. If we go for a walk around the block, we feel the ground and weather; we smell and taste the air; we hear what is going on around us; and most importantly we see the world first hand without the filtration of a lens. A virtual world is a controlled environment where all of these senses are limited, if they are even available at all. This does not mean virtuality is bad, but people should not make the mistake in thinking that they can get everything they need in the virtual world because of the limitations associated with simulation. The use of every one of your senses enhances your experience, as well as your memory and feelings associated with it. The good news for virtual reality lovers is that technology is improving and media being used in combination with one another to enhance virtual experiences. Who knows, maybe one day we will be able to go to a virtual market, smell the food and taste samples.
While possibilities are endless, reality is that the virtual world is here to stay. Education systems are using online tutorials and virtual classrooms to allow students to go to school. The University of Phoenix is a nationwide, online university where you can get a college degree without ever having to step out of your home to go to class. Almost all schools have online components or options. This can be very convenient for some who have busy lives and do not have the time to attend classes. Costs for classes are also a lot cheaper in many cases. It does however; require a great deal of self-initiative and self-motivation. For me personally, I believe that I do better when I am physically engaging with a school environment and hearing the teacher speak. I think that a lost of the back and forth is lost and the characteristics that make a class unique are no longer as present. I think it is great to have the option to attend a virtual institution; and others do too since it has been quite successful all over the map. Online schooling is not going to take away the need for real schools. If anything, the option of online schooling has reached a larger audience of might not be able to physically attend school but still want to get an education.
If virtuality can be used to involve a larger audience than it is a proven success. While nothing is as good as the real thing, something is still better than nothing. In many cases, virtuality is a nice compromise. Let’s say an important lecture is given across the country. Chances are, that you won’t fly across the country to hear it. Pod casts have allowed people to hear speeches on their own time from the convenience of their own home and save what they want to their computer. This is not the same as hearing someone speak in person, but it does provide an easy solution to scheduling and location conflicts.
While in many cases, the real world is better than the virtual one; this is not always the case. Some things make more sense virtually. Virtual systems like online banking and search engines are often easier and more organized than using previous real life systems. All banks practice online baking because it is easy and it makes the most sense. No more waiting in line, or getting to the bank before it closes at six o’clock pm. Online banking allows you to bank from your home twenty-four hours a day! Banking online is also more organized, by allowing you to see a list of your transactions and the status as to weather the transactions have gone through or are still pending. They are updated automatically and the quickest way to figure out the status of your account.
Search engines like Google have also made information organization a much more convenient and accessible for all to navigate through and find whatever it is they are looking for. It is a centralized system where previously, we would’ve needed many different resources to find the information we need. The biggest convenience of Google is the speed of it. It takes seconds to type in and search anything imaginable where libraries take a lot of digging and sorting. Not only will it find what you’re looking for with a list of searches, but it will also link you up with the direct websites. Google is a virtual body that is universally useful and necessary when navigating through the web; which has millions of sites around the world. Since almost everyone has a web site, Google can find almost anything you need in the world.
Google has stepped up their game and taken their system into many specified sub-facets. Google Maps allows you to select anywhere on the globe and zoom in, as well as navigation for travel. This is much more practical than buying map books with different scales and flipping through pages. While the aesthetics are not as pleasing as a traditional map, the function is much more practical and most importantly, free! Google Earth allows computer users to look around the globe through a camera lens via satellite and zoom in on whatever they please. This is a concept that allows you to literally see the world, virtually! The possibilities are endless with a system like this. From voyeurs to someone wondering if the parking is full at the grocery store, Google Earth has found a virtual way to bring the whole world into your living room.
I think Google is both amazing and scary! I do not like the idea of being spied on but the fact that we have the technology to do so is fascinating. The key to having technology is using it in a correct way. A system like Google Earth could be dangerous if it got into the wrong hands. With any kind of technological advancements it is important to consider both positives and negatives and use responsibility. New advancements require insight as to the negative effects and ways the technology might be abused and used with harmful intentions. I’m not saying that Google Earth is necessarily a threat but I do think that it has potential for destructive purposes. Some things are best when they are not instantly accessible. Easy access can be an invitation for trouble. If someone really needs something, than they will work hard to get it. Virtual options can sometimes be the lazy way out, where you are getting the bare minimum and not the whole experience.
Reality has its place and should always have its place. Without reality, we wouldn’t have virtual reality. After all, virtual reality is an imitation of real life. As virtuality improves with technology it will become more and more prevalent in our society. There is no way to change the course of this natural evolution of human development, but it is important that we do not forget the limitations of simulation. Convenience has its price and this must always be considered with virtuality. Someone might shop online to save time, but are they really saving time or are they making more work for themselves in the long run. How much time is saved when the jacket you ordered a month ago arrives in the mail and you realize that the material irritates your skin. The real world can, and will always, paint a more complete picture in ways that the virtual world will never be able to.
-David Arnevik