I saw an article in the Vancouver Sun the other day about how some of the “tech giants” are aiming to create a “metaverse.” Apparently, this is some kind of virtual or augmented reality “space” in which people can interact as avatars and will allow for a more seamless integration – assimilation even – of people into the Internet. I might be old-fashioned, but what is the deal with augmented reality? Why do we have augment it? Since when is actual reality not good enough? When I go for a walk in the woods, the incredible textures, ever-changing foliage, colours, smells, and sounds of nature are always good enough for me.
Do we really want everyone to be walking around with Facebook-designed virtual reality headsets, connected to the Internet (or multiverse) at all times? Don’t get me wrong, I was a huge fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and I always thought it would be cool to have my own hollodeck, but as something I’d just use from time to time for fun. It sounds like this multiverse would, however, would gradually become an alternative to reality, much like the vision depicted in Ready Player 1. Reality is somehow not really good enough, so we have to create these fantastical electronic spaces where we can do and experience different things.
That’s not to say I can’t see the use of this kind of technology. People will likely be able to connect personally and work together much more seamlessly. Indeed, eventually, we might look back and think it was funny that we had to point and click on a computer screen or touch our phones to make things happen. Harnessing the power of the world’s information and communication systems to be more connected and efficient seems to have some major advantages.
As mentioned, though, what about regular, everyday life? When did experiencing our non-digital lives stop being good enough? Perhaps it was never good enough. For eons, people have relied on substances to experience something different, sought out adventures and experiences that they can’t get at home, fantasized or daydreamed about new or different lives, and so forth. Electronic devices have provided new ways to life different lives. I’ve observed, however, that some people who use electronics voraciously actually seem to be less and less capable of experiencing and appreciating their non-digital lives. I’ve observed kids who have no idea what to do when they’re not in front of a screen, get twitchy and agitated, and seem like they’re having withdrawal symptoms. It’s almost as if they’re losing the skills they need to interact with the real world, talk to people, sit and chill out without looking at a phone or screen, read a book, eat dinner, exercise, or go for a walk without being plugged in, and so forth.
I suppose it reflects my own values to suggest that these regular, everyday activities in the real world are somehow better or more valuable than a life lived in the digital world. Others might have different, equally valid values about this stuff. I do worry, though. If over a billion people had VR headsets (as promised by Facebook), what would happen? How many people would fail to appreciate the natural world, stop caring about the environment, forget how to have a real conversation with someone, or even forget that people are real and not just avatars or images? Not everyone, but some.
I didn’t really start writing this with the intention of making it a rant-blog, but it looks like that’s how it’s turning out! I think it’s time for me to get off the computer, go sit outside, watch the hummingbirds, and enjoy the fresh, crisp autumn air. ~Alexander L. Chapman, Ph.D., R.Psych