Xref: utzoo alt.cyberpunk:3225 alt.cyberspace:106 news.groups:15595
Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!well!bluefire
From: bluefire@well.UUCP (Bob Jacobson)
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk,alt.cyberspace,alt.cyberpunk.tech,news.groups
Subject: Re: Cyberpunk/space/tech/virtual-reality
Message-ID: <14973@well.UUCP>
Date: 13 Dec 89 10:06:51 GMT
References: <4860@blake.acs.washington.edu>
Reply-To: bluefire@well.UUCP (Bob Jacobson)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA
Lines: 18


As I told him in email, I think Tom Maddox mischaracterizes those
actually working on virtual reality.  More than most technologists,
they are aware of the possible magnitude of the consequences of
this technology and, almost without exception, are clear on the
point that they are working to prevent its use in inhumane ways.

This may be one of the first times in history where a technology
was thoroughly debated before it was fully developed, let alone
implemented.  Rather than despair of virtual reality's future,
it's time to amplify the discussion of how we can buffer it against
exploitive uses and encourage its humanity-serving potential.

-- 
BOB JACOBSON, Associate Director, Human Interface Technology Laboratory
       University of Washington (FU-20), Seattle, WA 98195 USA
   (206) 543-5075 (voice), 543-5380 (fax)   *   bluefire@well.uucp
                >> "We can do virtually anything." <<