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From: klw11037@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: RE: What is a virtual reality
Message-ID: <138900005@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 24 Aug 90 00:13:00 GMT
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>>The issue of "reality" is a function of the fidelity of input
>>and output devices. 
>
>I disagree, the fidelity of a head mounted VDU does not effect the
>validity of the virtual reality it is interfacing with.A low resolution
>display can be thought of as an eye with a small number of rods and
>cones. 
>
>Pete Leaback.

This almost seems more a matter of definition of just *what* is the virtual
reality. Is it the self consistent set of sensory input that is received
from the output devices, in which case the "reality" is a function of the
fidelity (to some extent, since the mind can fill in quite a lot given a 
basic framework). If it is defined to be the "world" mapped into the 
algorithms generating the VR, then the "reality" is not a function of the
fidelity of the IO gear. 

Kyle Webb