From: edlantz@aol.com (Edlantz)
Subject: Re: TECH: Virtual worlds with alternative physics and/or geometries
Date: 15 Mar 1996 22:42:04 -0500
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)


From: edlantz@aol.com (Edlantz)

Stephen Bell <sbell@stern.nyu.edu> writes:
>I am intrigued by the idea of programming a virtual world in which
>physics does not obey Newtonian laws, or in which space is not Euclidean.

When you think of it, the physical world is very cumbersome.  Just to
get a cup of water requires all kinds of motor and navigation skills.
VR often tries to simulate the physical world.  Instead of just
violating the laws of physics, why not violate the interaction between
mind and physics? In other words, make "magical" interfaces.  Space
warps, hyperspace, locally variable gravity, action at a distance,
variable time frames, etc. In other words, violate physics in ways
which give us greater control over the virtual environment and objects
within it.

Ed Lantz