I believe the basic functions that made the computer user friendly were the most significant – typing, mouse, etc. Before these, computers could only be seen as mathematical machines that professionals could use. By adding on more user friendly aspects, it allows the general public to have access and understand how the machine works.

Slater poses a good point that there should be a better general understanding of virtual reality and how to describe the phenomenon of it. I don’t think this is something that will happen for the general population for at least 10 or so years. Relating back to the previous question, virtual reality is not something that everyone is experiencing – at least to the point of conceptually understanding it. Once the use of VR becomes more common, the general public will not reflect on what exactly is going on.

Sutherland’s ending didn’t even strike me as ‘menacing’ until I read it the second time. He isn’t too far off; with the development of video games and virtual reality, you can almost completely submerge yourself into a game. Although fatality and actual presence are not developed yet, I wouldn’t be surprised if that were something to come in 20+ years.

I think the fascinating part about Sutherland’s article is that all of these things are still used today, and you can pretty much get all of the aspects in the palm of your hand. Phones now serve as computers, where you can take and edit photos, type to others and make notes for yourself, plan games san joysticks and controllers, combining all aspects of a computer into one. If this is what exists for us today, what is to come in the next 50 years – or better yet what are the predictions similar to these?