“VR can make the artificial as realistic as, and even more realistic than, the real” (Negroponte 116). “VR started as far back as 1968, when none other than Ivan Sutherland built the first head-mounted display system” (Negroponte 118). The military would use this interactivity to give the soldiers hands-on experience in times of attack. When Negroponte says that virtual reality can be more realistic than the real, he is making the point that with so many simulations being utilized, more scenarios can be looked at and prepared for. “In the simulator, a pilot can be subjected to all sorts of rare situations that, in the real world, could be impossible, could require more than a near miss, or could rip apart an actual plane” (Negroponte 117). With this technological advancement, virtual reality can be used as a more cost effective way of training than actually training in an expensive piece of aircraft, or any other type of machinery. For instance, a pilot can get more hours practicing at a cheaper cost for the government. Not only that, but it is a safety precaution. Instead of an amateur pilot controlling a real aircraft for the first time, he or she can control a simulator safely in all types of scenarios.
Not only can virtual reality be a beneficial source for training purposes, it can also be used for gaming. Gaming has become so advanced; virtual games are eagerly anticipated to the point of being expected. While VR may be too expensive at the moment, video game systems such as the Nintendo Wii and the XBOX360 have made much progress in the technological advancements of virtual gaming. These systems may not be the exact thing as virtual reality, but the graphics are advancing with almost every new system that arrives. VR may soon be apart of households all around the world. “Sega and Nintendo will also be extinct if they do not wake up to the fact that PCs are eating their lunch” (Negroponte 115). Nintendo did wake up with the Wii. It is a video game system that has motion sensitive controls. The Wii remotes can be used as extensions of the player’s hands and arms by duplicating the movements of a baseball bat, sword, or even golf club. Personal computers used to be too expensive for the average person to buy, but now computers have a place in millions of homes all over the world. This can be the same for virtual reality one day. Game systems have already made huge leaps towards virtual reality.
Virtual reality in many homes may be just around the corner for virtually every consumer. There are many advantages to this interactivity. It can be used for safety precautions, economic benefits, and gaming. This innovation created years ago is still advancing and will eventually become many of our everyday lives.
Negroponte, Nicholas. Being Digital. New York: Vintage Books, 1995.
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1 comment:
Josh, have a reason for quoting. You begin with two quotations from Negroponte, but they are just there -- work them into your text. All of your quotations dangle: they cannot live on their own.
Where is your thesis? This is a very cursory look at VR, and I'm not sure what your point is, nor how it relates to Negroponte.
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