Sony Creates Real “Matrix” Game

  Sony Entertainment, has created a new virtual reality video game where players will actually be “jacked” into a matrix like world where they can create their own lives. They can have their own house, car, friends, career, adventure, plus more! This new virtual reality like game takes a huge step in making a real life matrix possible.

The Game is called Playstation Home and was released in 2007. What is interesting to note is that the technology to actually take a  picture of a person and to project a 3D hologram in a computer generated world already exists. Other simulations are already being discussed as Sony is anticipating this new type of gaming to be incredibly successful. This game is just the beginning!

Tests have already been done with volunteers being given a head set that you wear like a helmet. Sensors are placed on specific points on your head to stimulate your brain, making you believe you are actually in the game. The eyes are covers almost like wearing sunglasses, thus the virtual world is created. Players were able to see themselves move in a virtual world in the test.

Many claim that soon this new type of technology will change not just gaming, but all human activities such as shopping, education, business, social gatherings, and much more! People will be able to actually shop, go on vacations, and socialize all without leaving their homes. People will no longer have to travel great distances for educational classes, or business meetings. ABC did an article on how virtual reality games help drug addicts recover from their addiction. Addicts are taken into a virtual setting where they would normally get urges to continue their addiction. A therapist will be present to guide the addict to control his urges by using sound.  This new type of behavior modification is aimed at helping struggling addicts heal. Also, there have been reports of autism being aided by virtual reality.

On the flip side, some feel this may devalue society. By being able to escape from reality into a fake artificially created one may decrease values in society. Criminal activities such as murder, or sex crimes present problems. Parents worry that children will be able to engage in reckless behavior with all the violent video games that will now be played in virtual reality, taking the experience to the next level. By going through simulations of violence like this, people can become desensitized. Scientists are still determining whether, or not the brain will suffer any side effects from continued use of virtual reality simulations. Arguments have been made stating humans can suffer severe psychological effects from over use of such simulations. Brain neurotransmitters could become dull, not being able to distinguish between the game and reality.

Contrast to this is the belief that this will help and improve human performance. Military virtual training simulations have enhanced performance in soldiers. By not being suffering injuries in the real world, soldiers are able to training exercises that they normally wouldn’t be able to do in the real world due to risk of injury, or even death. The result of this has been more training simulations that mimic real world situations resulting in better trained soldiers. The United States Air Force is making good use of this technology. Pilots are given VR training to simulate real flight missions.There is talk of this being the future of warfare. The Air Force already has pilots flying air crafts while they sit in front of a computer with a controller which resembles a game controller. Soldiers are already able to command tanks and other military vehicles using game like controllers. Soon a fighter pilot will actually be able to sit in a virtual cockpit, while the actually jet is miles away in combat.  

In the end, time will reveal how virtual reality will effect human civilization.