From: aajpeter@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (Aaron J. Peterson)
Subject: Re: Classic (was CR v. VR) (LONG)
Date: Sun, 11 Aug 91 21:43:09 -0500
Message-ID: <1991Aug12.024302.14867@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington


In article <1991Aug7.003340.15620@milton.u.washington.edu> smoliar@iss.nus.sg (stephen smoliar) writes:
 [STUFF DELETED]
>
>Regarding the second argument, if your body is involved AT ALL in your use of
>the net, your argument has gone up in smoke.  What the net has taught us is
>that we can extend ourselves through the physical use of eyes and fingers
>alone.  This would not surprise anyone familiar with sign language.  (Sign
>language DOES involve more than the fingers, but the reduction would not be
>surprising.)  What would it be like for the net to be MORE physically
>involving?  Let's leave that for another article.
>
>-----------------------------------------------------
>
>Stephen W. Smoliar; Institute of Systems Science
>National University of Singapore; Heng Mui Keng Terrace
>Kent Ridge, SINGAPORE 0511
>smoliar%iss.nus.sg@nuscc.nus.sg

For good examples of "physically involving," I cite  the book "Neuromancer"
(incomplete refrence) and the computer game of the same name.  These Sci-Fi
examples  are  an  excellent  cursory   exploration    of   the  idea  of a
virtual-reality representation of  the net.  The  analogy mainly deals with
defences, a.k.a. passwords, security protection, etc, portrayed as physical
obstacles of  some sort.  There is also  a role-playing game  , "Cyberpunk"
which has extensive   rules/ideas concerning  the   nethacking  analogy  to
reality ( the virtual reality of the imagination).  The atmosphere that the
computer game  creates is quite  good, considering the  the almost absolute
lack of positive feedback.


Aaron J. Peterson 

'"We don't need no stinking opinions!" - IU' - Me