The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics

Book Review Chapter 15:

Virtual Reality and Computer Simulation: PHILIP BREY

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Information-Computer-Ethics/dp/0471799599/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232853902&sr=8-1

Quote:  “whether virtuality can and should function as a substitute for ordinary reality”

    In my experience and based on what I know, virtual reality has largely or greatly impacted the world by simulating real life activities. Virtual reality and Computer Simulation has greatly contributed to the development of a human being. It has been proven by athletes like Formula 1 drivers who sometimes use a simulator to learn a certain track. Although there is a lack of accuracy that the virtual car doesn’t come close to reality, learning the race track with the virtual machine is good enough.

Learning Expectation:

    I expect to learn what connection virtual reality and computer simulation relates to ethics and how ethicist takes it as a challenge, because I think that it is difficult for ethicists to analyze and determine appropriate ethics for virtual reality and computer simulation.

Review:

    The chapter first tells us about how Virtual Reality is and how it is experienced by hundreds of people today. Some people may not be noticing it but actually, people, especially kids experience virtual reality by playing video games. Hundreds of people around the world play video games. Just by doing that, people are already experiencing virtual reality and computer simulation. It is also discussed in this chapter how they would compare virtuality versus reality. They would compare the two and analyze how virtuality can or should function as a substitute over reality.

It is interesting to note that Virtual Reality and computer simulation are not much paid attention by ethicists because it is complicated. Therefore, virtual reality and computer simulation will continue to present new challenges for ethics because more applications that are used for virtual reality are being developed and being used world wide.

What I’ve learned:

    I have learned how it is complicated for ethicists to deal with virtual reality and computer simulations because of Misinterpretations, Biased Representations, and Indecent Representations.

Questions:

1.    Will there ever be a virtual reality as close as reality.

2.    How will the lack of accuracy result to reality?

3.    Can virtuality stand alone as training?

4.    Do we need to improve still virtuality?

5.    Is virtuality good?

Citation: (Kenneth Einar E. Himma & Herman T. Tavani, 2008)