Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Virtual Reality Redux
So, now some scientists are toying with the notion that what we call reality could simply be part of a very large video game inside a giant computer. An interesting idea, if nothing more, and definitely not anything new. Science fiction writers like Harlan Ellison and others ventured into that area decades ago -- you should read Ellison"s short story "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream," for example.
The "new" concept of reality is good exercise for the mind, but nothing new by any means. The best insight by the scientists looking into this explanation of reality is that it probably would be a bad idea to go outside and hold up a sign saying, "I'm Onto Your Game, You Computer Geek." Very good advice indeed (think "The Truman Show"). Virtual reality is still better than no reality, eh?
The "new" concept of reality is good exercise for the mind, but nothing new by any means. The best insight by the scientists looking into this explanation of reality is that it probably would be a bad idea to go outside and hold up a sign saying, "I'm Onto Your Game, You Computer Geek." Very good advice indeed (think "The Truman Show"). Virtual reality is still better than no reality, eh?
