When Emerging Technologies Affect the Human Psyche: Virtual Reality

The consumer release of the Oculus Rift headset presents us with an opportunity to talk about virtual reality.  This is something that I personally am very much looking forward to—trying out a first-person shooter VR video game is definitely on my bucket list.  But as with all emerging technologies, the new wave of VR presents us with opportunities for good use and abuse.

Let me first acknowledge that VR headsets have potential for many good uses.  They could be used train pilots and surgeons and treat phobias and PTSD. They could also possibly be attached to bicycle machines at gyms for a more entertaining work-out experience, perhaps giving some people that extra incentive to work on the cardio.  And as with video games, there is a proper place for their entertainment value.

We should also be aware, however, of the potential concerns with commercialized VR headsets as they become cheaper, more advanced, and more widespread.  We can look at past examples to get some idea of what we might face.  Second Life is a kind of online virtual reality game created in 2003 in which players create avatars of themselves and interact with other players in ways that mimic the real world, for example, via social events or economic exchanges.  As one might expect, there have been players who have become addicted to the game, prioritizing time playing on Second Life at the expense of their real life in the real world.

I would not be surprised if similar applications become available on VR headsets.  And again, while such games may not be bad in and of themselves, we ought to remind people that human flourishing can only truly take place in the real world, and that neglecting the real world can have negative consequences.

I came across a short film about VR that admittedly may seem a little too dystopian to count as an actual warning.  I do think, however, it depicts the idea that while not everyone will become addicted to VR, those that do, and the problems they face because of it, still matter.