Virtual Realities

​Virtually, I think all reality is subjective. Think about it.  Everyone has their own perception, their unique “virtual” view of reality playing in their mind that meets and merges at different points with others.  It calls to question if any event is experienced exactly the same. Quite possibly there isn’t one reality or event that we’re all experiencing.  This is not a great theoretical question, and it’s not rocket science. From my point in reality, it appears to be actual in its virtual-ness.


Before I get carried away, here is TechTerms.com’s definition for Virtual Reality (VR), “Created, simulated, or carried on by means of a computer or computer network. Therefore, virtual reality is best described as an illusion of reality by a computer system.”  TechTerm follows up with a further explanation. “A person may enter a world of virtual reality by putting on special glasses and headphones attached to a computer system running the virtual reality program. These devices immerse the user with the sights and sounds of the virtual world. Some virtual reality systems allow the user to also wear gloves with electronic sensors that can be used to touch or move virtual objects. As the user moves his head or hands, the computer moves the virtual world accordingly in real-time.”


I especially relate to TechTerm’s description “an illusion of reality.” The illusion of reality becomes our practical world in many respects. We are everywhere surrounded by corporations that spend exorbitant amounts of money on sales and marketing to help us create “illusions of reality” by buying their products. Again, think about it – the selling of cars, clothes, pharmaceuticals, tech devices, not to mention politics. It becomes like a continuous hypnotic state, a true virtual reality for each individual. We’re intoxicated by what we think is real.


With the purchase of Oculus, an American technology company leading the way in virtual reality, Facebook is gearing up to introduce new virtual worlds, which include ancient pasts, imagined futures and potential probabilities.  Their chief scientist, Michael Abrash, explained, “Whether signals are real or artificially created doesn’t matter, if we react to the stimuli, then what we are experiencing is by definition real.”


Thank you, Mr. Abrash. This is where I jump in and heartily agree. I would add to his ideas of real and artificial signals, those inwardly inspired signals. This would include our far-reaching and often underused imaginations, dreams (awake and sleep), insights, and aspirations and hopes. All of which affect our directions and decisions in life. These creative abilities are what gave birth to the idea of VR in the first place. They created the virtual vision that lured the idea into actuality.


We don’t need a headset with preprogrammed images to swat and bash about in real-time.  We need to immerse ourselves in a mindset that we program with ideas of high creativity and ideals of cooperation.
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May our virtual realities meet and merge in the adventure of a shared SEARCH, and may the Force (of creativity) be with you!  Join me.