Virtual Reality

In the 21st Century we, as humans, rely on computer technology in everyday life. Computers and interfaces are used on a day-to-day basis all over the world, whether it be sending an instant message, browsing the internet or simply making a phone call.
Technology has now gone a step further with the introduction of ‘virtual reality’. Virtual reality is an artificial environment that is created with software and presented to the user in such a way that the user suspends belief and accepts it as a real environment.
The Centre for Advanced Visualization and Interaction (CAVI) is an organisation with the “objective to do research and support education concerning new visualisation and interaction techniques.”. On the CAVI website ( http://www.cavi.dk/index.php ) I came across a lot of very useful and intriguing information on virtual reality and new technologies. Such technologies have become extremely vital for training purposes in complex surgical procedures, such as open heart surgery and brain surgery as you can see from the following video http://www.cavi.dk/projects/surgical_simulation.php
By utilising the fact that virtual reality is just that, virtual, trainee doctors can practice risky surgical procedures without endangering a single person.
Virtual reality could also in the future play a huge role within the military. In the government's perspective use of virtual reality it is easy to see how this technology proves useful. Supposing a war broke out, by using virtual reality pilots instead of real pilots the number of casualties would obviously be less. Pilots would fly their aircraft from a remote location via video and audio equipment in the form of virtual reality. As technology increases over the next several years, it will become easier and easier for the pilots to fly planes from a remote location.
However, despite all the lives this may save there is a down side. The down side being that perhaps this will stimulate the government to react more easily in a violent way. Without any loss of lives the only thing the government has to lose by attacking are the cost of planes. In my opinion it is obvious that virtual reality comes with huge benefits, however it also has its obvious social disadvantages. Just like the computing age has hackers, the virtual age will have it's own high-tech delinquents. You can't prevent technology from being abused. There will be those who use virtual reality rudely, stupidly, dangerously--just as they do the telephone or computer. Like the telephone and the modem, its popular rise will also eliminate the need for certain fundamental kinds of human contact, even as it enhances our ability to communicate.
Virtual reality has the potential, if used correctly, to become a great technological advancement that will aid society in many ways.

Could a nations dependance on new technologies lead to its own demise?

As humans, it is in our biological make-up to continuously strive to find methods of making our lives altogether easier, and in turn improve our standards of living. It is no lie to say that, as a nation, Britain is now far more dependant on technology than ever before. Take for instance communication. In the not so distant past the only way to communicate to somebody who was any great distance away would have meant writing and sending a letter, which coincidently may have taken weeks to reach the recipient. Fast Forward a few hundred years; and with great advances in technology and technological research, you can speak to and see somebody on the other side of the world in a click of a button, and without even leaving your couch.

However, is it the endeavour for a better standard of living that could ironically lead to the demise of the nation? Has our dependance on technology blinded us to our own humanity?

It cannot be argued that 21st Century Britain is a far more lazier country than it was in the 20th Century. Britain is the 3rd fattest nation in the world behind only the U.S.A and Mexico, this has become a stigma that the Government is keen to shake off. Health secretary Andy Burnham has said "we are simply nowhere near as active as we should be,". Due to the influx of new technologies available to the general public; Britons have become couch potatoes, lacking excercise and motivation. Why bother writing out a letter by hand, pay for postage, walk to the post office to post it and then still have to wait for the recipient to recieve the letter, when you could sit in the comfort of your own home and send an e-mail? This is the attitude that is common through the majority of the british public.

There are some serious economic and social implications of the lazyness that stems from our nations dependance on technology. The cost of combating illness's related to obesity comes to a massive £7billon a year. Money that could be better spent on education, maintaining public areas and providing addequate equipment for troops fighting a war in Afghanistan. Britain is also facing a threat from 'cyberwarfare'. A concept that was once only heard of in sci-fi movies. Britains reliance on its technological infrastructure means if a cyber attack was to take place, Britain may fall to its knees. It seems however countries are aware of this threat. In an interview with BBC news, Greg Day, a primary analyst for security at MaAfee europe said, "There are at least five countries known to be arming themselves for this kind of conflict,".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8363175.stm

It must be said however, that although new technologies may be costing the nation in the sense of increasing NHS bills, it also boosts the economy and provides jobs and security to a nation. However the threat of cyberwarfare is very real, and, with our nation depending so much on modern technology in day to day life, have we become a sitting duck? Watch this space...