Immersive Technology (58)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 1993
Geordie uses a brain-computer interface, which projects his consciousness into a mobile avatar controlled by his neural impulses, to explore distant ships. This humanoid avatar is able to perform tasks that go beyond human capabilities, such as shooting phaser beams from the hands. However, upon discovering the dead crew of the Raman, it is revealed that the lines separating his virtual reality and true reality are blurred.
- Kinolab
- 1993
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- 11 min
- Kinolab
- 1993
Interface: The Virtual Extension of the Self
Geordie uses a brain-computer interface, which projects his consciousness into a mobile avatar controlled by his neural impulses, to explore distant ships. This humanoid avatar is able to perform tasks that go beyond human capabilities, such as shooting phaser beams from the hands. However, upon discovering the dead crew of the Raman, it is revealed that the lines separating his virtual reality and true reality are blurred.
What non-fantastical applications might you be able to think of for a technology similar to this, especially in regards to transferring neural impulses into a machine? What are the consequences of giving machines unbridled access to our thoughts? How can machines get in the way of perception of objective reality?
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Test Run-
- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 1973
Simulacron is a virtual reality full of 10,000 simulated humans who believe themselves to be sentient, but are actually nothing more than programs. The identity units in Simulacron do not know or understand that they are artificial beings, and they behave under the idea that they are real humans. “Real” humans can enter this virtual reality through a brain-computer interface, and control the virtual identity units. Christopher Nobody, a suspect whom Fred is trying to track down, had the revelation that he was an identity unit, and that realization led to a mental breakdown. In following this case, Fred meets Einstein, a virtual unit who desires to join the real world. As Einstein enacts the final stages of this plan, Fred discovers a shocking secret about his own identity. For a similar concept, see the narrative “Online Dating Algorithms” on the Hang the DJ episode of Black Mirror.
- Kinolab
- 1973
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- 12 min
- Kinolab
- 1973
Simulated Humans and Virtual Realities
Simulacron is a virtual reality full of 10,000 simulated humans who believe themselves to be sentient, but are actually nothing more than programs. The identity units in Simulacron do not know or understand that they are artificial beings, and they behave under the idea that they are real humans. “Real” humans can enter this virtual reality through a brain-computer interface, and control the virtual identity units. Christopher Nobody, a suspect whom Fred is trying to track down, had the revelation that he was an identity unit, and that realization led to a mental breakdown. In following this case, Fred meets Einstein, a virtual unit who desires to join the real world. As Einstein enacts the final stages of this plan, Fred discovers a shocking secret about his own identity. For a similar concept, see the narrative “Online Dating Algorithms” on the Hang the DJ episode of Black Mirror.
What purposes can virtual reality “laboratories” full of simulated humans serve in terms of research in fields such as sociology? Is it justifiable to make programs which believe themselves to be sentient humans, yet deny them access to the “real world”? How can AI mental health be reassured, especially when it comes to existential crises like the one Fred has?
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. Tom is a member of the Hatfield family, the owner of the tech monopoly which created this technology. The Feed allows people to alter their perception of reality, whether this means changing the appearance of people and places or playing music over any environmental noise.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 14 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Omnipresent Technology and Altering Reality
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. Tom is a member of the Hatfield family, the owner of the tech monopoly which created this technology. The Feed allows people to alter their perception of reality, whether this means changing the appearance of people and places or playing music over any environmental noise.
What are potential consequences of getting large numbers of people addicted to brain-computer interface technologies that can easily be hacked? How does this deprive people of autonomy? How can digital addiction de-sensitize people to the “real world”? How could augmented reality fundamentally change industries such as interior design, event planning, and even travel? How can virtual reality tech be used to bring us closer, and connect people together? What will virtual meetings look like in the future, with the potential for holograms and a complete immersive experience?
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- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. In this narrative, Ben, a member of the family who owns the company which created the Feed, uses the augmented reality features to create a virtual version of his ex-wife, Miyu, who he can make indulge in his own fantasies, regardless of what those may be. Eventually, this digital version of Miyu starts to glitch, but Ben nonetheless begins to share this virtual, subservient clone to other people to use in their own fantasies.
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 5 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
VR Intimacy and Objectification
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. In this narrative, Ben, a member of the family who owns the company which created the Feed, uses the augmented reality features to create a virtual version of his ex-wife, Miyu, who he can make indulge in his own fantasies, regardless of what those may be. Eventually, this digital version of Miyu starts to glitch, but Ben nonetheless begins to share this virtual, subservient clone to other people to use in their own fantasies.
How are women deprived of autonomy when men are able to control virtual versions of women in their own digital fantasies? How exactly would the consequences of this infect the real world? Is it ethical to use someone’s image and likeness for private purposes without their consent? How can we ‘copyright’ our own image?
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- 2 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. Tom, the son of the Feed’s creator Lawrence, realizes that his father had deleted some of his childhood memories from the device in his brain, thus Tom has lost all access to them. For further insights into technology and the nature of parent-child relationships, see the narratives “Marie and Sara Parts I and II.”
- Kinolab
- 2019
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- 2 min
- Kinolab
- 2019
Personal Control over Memories
In an imagined future of London, citizens all across the globe are connected to the Feed, a device and network accessed constantly through a brain-computer interface. Tom, the son of the Feed’s creator Lawrence, realizes that his father had deleted some of his childhood memories from the device in his brain, thus Tom has lost all access to them. For further insights into technology and the nature of parent-child relationships, see the narratives “Marie and Sara Parts I and II.”
What rights do parents have over the minds and bodies of their children? Should parents ever be able to alter the memories of their children, even if this is supposedly for their own good? What are the consequences of the externalisation of memory through digital technology? How should children be able to give consent for alterations to technological implants?
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- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 2020
After dying in a car crash, computer programmer Nathan’s consciousness is uploaded into the Lakeview program, one of many digital afterlives in which resurrected consciousnesses are guided through the virtual reality by a living “angel” figure. After Nathan struggles to adapt to his new reality, his angel figure, Nora, appears in the virtual reality to convince him to stay. However, Nora is having struggles of her own in convincing her father to accept the virtual afterlife in place of a supposed real heaven. For a similar premise, see the narrative “Afterlives and Liberation in Digital Utopias” on the San Junipero episode of Black Mirror.
- Kinolab
- 2020
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- 10 min
- Kinolab
- 2020
Virtual Afterlives and Adaptation
After dying in a car crash, computer programmer Nathan’s consciousness is uploaded into the Lakeview program, one of many digital afterlives in which resurrected consciousnesses are guided through the virtual reality by a living “angel” figure. After Nathan struggles to adapt to his new reality, his angel figure, Nora, appears in the virtual reality to convince him to stay. However, Nora is having struggles of her own in convincing her father to accept the virtual afterlife in place of a supposed real heaven. For a similar premise, see the narrative “Afterlives and Liberation in Digital Utopias” on the San Junipero episode of Black Mirror.
How might digital afterlives change the role of religion in the conceptualization of what happens after death? Is digital immortality in contradiction with religion? In this world, access to certain afterlives are determined by wealth, with more cushy afterlives costing more money. What ethical concerns does this raise? If there is to be a digital afterlife, does everyone need a fair shot at access? Should everyone have a fair shot at access, even if they led an evil life? Should such technology as this be privatized and under centralized control? Is it feasible to have people remain in the virtual world forever, or will VR never match up to actual reality?