Reading 5

 in Readings by

For class 10/13/15
Post Comments by 11:59 pm on 10/11/15

Virtual Reality as the End of the Enlightenment Project
by Simon Penny

Please print out these articles and bring them with you to class on Monday for discussion.  Alternatively, you can bring digital version of the reading with you.

Discussion (Two parts; each part covers the entire reading)

Part 1

What do you think the author is trying to have the reader take away from this piece?   Do you feel this piece is effective overall? What points do you think were effective/convincing for you and which were not? (Write at least 1-2 paragraphs)

Part 2: Pick four of the following

  1. Choose one of the examples the author lists of pre-1950 VR.  How would you compare these types of systems to VR systems of today?
  2. The paper predicts that a future that we seem not to have arrived to.  Why do you think this disparity exists?  What things do you feel like have come to fruition and things do you feel like are still in the future.
  3. Do you agree with the author that VR is different than tradition mediums such as film, television and so on? In what ways is VR similar and in what ways is it different?
  4. The author argues that inventors often don’t see the downsides of their own inventions.  Do you feel that this is the case for VR?  Does VR present a more powerful means of presenting images for companies than other forms of media?
  5. What do you think about the authors take on “how real is VR?”  Do you find the passenger analogy apt? (state why)
  6. What do you think of the Battletech example? Do you feel like video games have taken the role of simulated Interactive media that the author suggests?  What do you think of the authors argument about “undiminished feeling of free will”?
  7. What do you think of the section on surveillance?  Do you feel like it fits with the rest of the article?  Describe why or why not
  8. What do you think of the quote from Lanier about the cup? Do you agree with the author or Lanier.  Why or why not?
  9. The author states that the R in VR is misleading.  Do you agree?
  10. The author implies that being inside of a simulated environment can cause the senses to become out of alignment.  Do you agree that this is a concern?  Does the section on cognitive plasticity make this concern seem less threatening?
  11. The author brings up the idea that humans only navigate a 2.5D space so that multi-dimensional data representations are not useful.  Do you agree?  Could VR provide a better approach to multi-dimensional data analysis?
  12. Do you agree there is no need for a body in VR?  Do you agree that Randy Walser and Eric Gulichsen are misguided in their quote?  Should we be concerned about alternative bodies?
  13. You may find a term or topic that you are unfamiliar with.  If you would like to, do a little research on the subject (wikipedia would be a good place to start). Briefly describe your understanding of this concept and how confident you are about this understanding.
  14. Find a topic that you interesting, dubious, or curious and explain why.  (Write at least 1 paragraph of explanation and add citations if warranted)