This video shows how RFID can help improve control over stock inventory both in real world and virtual world situations. With the current state of virtual reality, it’s unlikely that virtual supermarkets will take off. They’re just too…clunky. However, one distinct possibility is a reversal. Computer controlled reality.
RFID will play a large part in this. The data it will provide will change the way we look at reality. By reporting and recording our locations and activities, it will digitise us – turning us into real life avatars.
In virtual reality, everything we do can be recorded. The software can record our every movement and interaction. This will soon be possible in real life, thanks to RFID and our interactions with computer interfaces.
Virtual worlds are created by us – so why limit ourselves to
reality? We could create entirely new realities. By realising that
we are free of the rules of real life, the doors are open to
incredible new possibilities. In many ways, virtual worlds already
provide us with glimpses of alternate realities. Its time we took
notice of these instrumental differences. In the future, we may decide that a virtual existence, a
life inside a fully immersive computer game where our every desire
is fulfilled, is a more appealing option than the real world we
currently inhabit. Many people have presented the idea that we are
already in such a virtual reality, but I don’t believe this is
possible. This is because virtual worlds provide us with many
possibilities that the real world does not, so why have they not
been “programmed” into the real world we know?
Since the early 21st century, the residents of the virtual world
Second Life have been working hard to recreate real life as
accurately as possible. Despite the virtual platform giving
occupants the ability to fly and teleport, they still prefer to
meticulously create staircases to walk their avatar up and down. At
discos, people require the coolest dance animations and best
looking clothes. In meetings, virtual characters sit down to rest
their virtual legs. It seems the confines of reality provide a
comfortable and familiar environment.
But virtual worlds are created by us – so why limit ourselves to
reality? We could create entirely new realities. By realising that
we are free of the rules of real life, the doors are open to
incredible new possibilities. In many ways, virtual worlds already
provide us with glimpses of alternate realities. Its time we took
notice of these instrumental differences. (cont.)
It seems that in these times of economic decline, people don’t want to forgo the luxuries that they’ve grown accustomed to over the years, so are choosing to indulge themselves in a virtual manner instead. There’s certainly a lot to be said for staying home surrounded by cheap entertainment compared with going out and being ripped off and mugged. Could this be the future? As Virtual Reality improves, we’ll be finding it replacing more and more of the “Real Life” things we currently take for granted.
Why travel on dangerous, expensive, and environmentally unfriendly airlines when you can immerse yourself in a Virtual holiday? Google Earth and Google Street, not to mention other “virtual sightseeing” options have recently taken a lot of big steps towards this. Although virtual reality interfaces have a long way to go before we can experience all the delights of a trip to somewhere beautiful, in the next few years it will be possible to walk down a foreign street on your computer screen, with the realism of a TV documentary. You’ll be able to go into a real shop, select a real item from a real shelf, and make real purchases from the shops on this street, to be delivered to your door. In Second Life, you can already wander around the accurately recreated streets of Dublin and other major cities. Primitive as it is now, we’ll soon be taking it for granted.
In the very distant future, personal nano-fabrication devices could allow us to recreate the exact tastes and textures of foods available anywhere on Earth. And if not, computer interfaces to our brains will merely simulate the feelings and tastes of eating these exotic cuisines. Whether as part of a virtual reality interface or not, the ability to remotely indulge our senses will surely come from somewhere.
In the future, we may decide that a virtual existence, a
life inside a fully immersive computer game where our every desire
is fulfilled, is a more appealing option than the real world we
currently inhabit. Many people have presented the idea that we are
already in such a virtual reality, but I don’t believe this is
possible. This is because virtual worlds provide us with many
possibilities that the real world does not, so why have they not
been “programmed” into the real world we know?