"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." -E. A. Poe
We rely on our senses of sight, touch, smell, sound, and taste to interpret the world around us. But what if our brains could force us to accept something which we knew was false and forced us to adapt to that information. What if our minds could change something fake into something real simply by believing it.
Spark VR indoor virtual reality park has attempted to create the optimal experiment for this idea. By immersing myself into the world of a survival horror video game with a 360 degree uninhibited headset, high quality sound canceling headphones, height and leaning recognition, and two lightweight handheld controllers which allowed for interactions with items within the game, I was thrust headfirst into this make-believe world yet adapted to my new situation shockingly quickly.
Upon learning the functions of the controls, how to look around, stoop, lean, jump, reach, grab, throw, and fight, my mind conformed to the parameters of the game and I no longer thought of the world beyond the headset. Instead I focused on aiming my flashlight into a dark sewer while attempting to hold my pistol steady, stooping to avoid the low ceiling as I approached the opening, listening for a footstep or a breath in the silence. My mind accepted that I was in a tunnel, that I needed to be silent to hear for enemies which did not exist in the real world but were able to cause me hesitation and anxiety nonetheless, and caused me to utilize the tools within the game the way they would be used in real life. Swinging a machete in the air to decapitate an enemy, dimming a flashlight to avoid detection, stooping to hide while physically quieting my breaths despite the distinct lack of any auditory receptors in the headset.
What I am attempting to explain is that my mind, a short time, accepted this virtual reality as truth and thus perceived the dangers as a threat to my own wellbeing. Understanding the mind's ability to accept the presented information as reality made this experience so much more interesting to me. I felt the same exhilaration, resourcefulness, and horror within the game that I would have felt in real life. The minds abilities to make these sensations feel real is remarkable and made my trip to Spark VR unforgettable.
If you have not yet experienced Virtual Reality for yourself, I encourage you to do so. It will change your perception of video games as well as your perception of how you define reality.
Comments