Wishing you were there

I took note of the observations of Dr. John Suler of Rider University in his "The Two Paths of Virtual Reality". On this point of human visceral involvement in these 'virtualizations' of reality we are in complete agreement.

Psychology of Cyberspace - The Two Paths of Virtual Reality: "The amplification of physical vigor and the minimizing of discomfort is more fantasy than reality. It doesn't live up to the definition of 'virtual.' People who WANT the exertion, the thumping heart, the sweat, the feel of the branches in their grip, will be disappointed. It ain't nuthin like the real thing, baby."

By the way the entire article is excellent. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the complexities of human virtualization and extended avatarism.

The limitations of virtualization were precisely the impetus behind the Extended Virtual Agent architecture. In order to achieve any true virtual existentialism, a much lower-level interface is called for.

The EVA is the answer to this dilemma.

Unfortunately implementation brings with it a host of its own issues, but I was always taught that all puzzles have answers - if one is willing to look carefully.

And in the right places.