From: brucec@phoebus.labs.tek.com (Bruce Cohen)
Subject: Ethics, Philosophy, and VR (was Re: Virtuality and the Dominant
Date: 10 Jan 92 19:23:45 GMT
Organization: Computer Research Lab, Tektronix Inc.



I'd like to suggest that this thread is getting overloaded with too many
related but different topics, and that we are in danger of reducing the
discussion to an exchange of aphorisms and slogans.

As I see it, there are a number of meta-issues here regarding the
conceptualization, development, and use of VR technology and
applications:

Metaphysical questions:

    what is "virtual reality"?

    how does it relate to sensual or consensual reality?

    ...

Aesthetic questions:

    what is the perceptual experience of entering and inhabiting a
    virtual world?

    what are appropriate artistic forms for designing a world and the
    interactions with it?

    how does VR compare and contrast in the quality of experience to
    other kinds of interaction (art, ceremony, intellectual discourse,
    etc.)?

    how can it be used to augment and enhance other kinds of interaction, or
    be enhanced by them?

    ...

Ethical and moral questions:

    what uses of VR or attributes of world design are potentially
    infringements of the rights of the users or others depicted or
    otherwise affected by a virtual world?

    what obligations do VR technologists and world designers have to
    protect the users from harm (e.g., addiction to virtual worlds)?

    ...

As the ellipses indicate, this is nowhere near an exhaustive list of
questions.  In my opinion, all of these questions are interesting and
important to the future of this field.  I also believe that, contrary to
what I think Gary Van der Heuvel implies, technologists are often quite
ready to discuss these sorts of issues (see the discussions of the
ethical and economic impact of nanotechnology in sci.nanotech, for
example).  But it is important to define and discuss the issues
separately at first, so that we all understand the subject, before going
on to discuss the interactions between them.

I agree with a number of people who have said or implied that not
discussing the issues will not make them go away; it will merely make
those of us who do not discuss them irrelevant to the solutions.

But please recognize that there are many reasons for different people to
engage in research into VR or discussion in this newsgroup.  Others may
not share your particular motives; that doesn't make theirs suspect OR
irrelevant to yours.

To get back to the concrete, how about creating an issues list in the
archives (possibly in the FAQ file), and trying to pose some of these
questions crisply and completely to try to stimulate and focus the
debate?

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speaker-to-managers, aka
Bruce Cohen, Computer Research Lab        email: brucec@crl.labs.tek.com
Tektronix Laboratories, Tektronix, Inc.                phone: (503)627-5241
M/S 50-662, P.O. Box 500, Beaverton, OR  97077


[MODERATOR'S NOTE:  Thank you Bruce for your usual clear and concise
thoughts.  We need to get on with the FAQ, and are doing so.  l find 
the mix of technology and philosophy stimulating, and welcome ways to
facilitate both types of discussions for the most intellectual enjoy-
ment of the participants.  Other suggestions are welcome. -- Bob
Jacobson]