Journal Assignment #4

Virtual Reality

Identity in Virtual Reality in general

Briggs, John C. (1996). The promise of virtual reality. The Futurist [Online], 30, p. 13-18. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=35:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=14:resultset=4:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=14:entityemailfullresultset=4:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts for the promises of virtual reality. It defines virtual reality as a three-dimensional, computer-generated simulation, which the user is offered another environment to move around, interact with, and become immersed in. The article speculates that rapid technological innovation in the form of faster computers, better software, and new devices to inform the senses are expected to improve virtual reality and its usefulness in the following ten years. Present and future applications of virtual reality are considered in architecture and construction, art, business, disability, education and training, engineering, entertainment, marketing, medicine, military, religion, and sex.



Lombard, M & Ditton T. (1997). At the Heart of It All:The Concept of Presence. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (Online), 3(2). Available:
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue2/lombard.html#rZillmanBrynat
[2001,November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts virtual reality and other emerging technologies offer a larger degree of presence than traditional media such as radio, telephone, film and many others. In other words, virtual reality and other new technologies are “hot” media which are designed to provide media users with an illusion that a mediated experience is not mediated, a perception defined here as presence. This article examines the key concept of presence and discusses the causes and effects of presence in different medias. The important factors for generating a sense of presence are the number of sensory output and input channels as well as the consistency of information in the different modalities. Effects of presence on the other hand are related to arousal, vection and motion sickness, and a number of other physiological changes. The article concludes with suggestions for future systematic research about presence.


Benefits

Frishberg, M. (2001, March 6). Virtual Snow Melts Away Pain. Wired News. [Online]
Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,1282,42084,00.html [2001, December 1]
Summary:
Music therapy or distractions with videotapes has long been known to help reduction pain. The article talks about possibilities of using virtual reality to distract patients from pain. It introduces a new virtual reality game called SnowWorld, which can be a soothing escape for burn patients. It is made to distract burn victims from the agonies that they are put through daily as their wounds are scrubbed clean to prevent infection and their skin-grafted limbs are exercised to help stretch the growing tissue. The article also talks about other new medical efforts using virtual reality like SpiderWorld. With lower cost and great potentials for medical treatment, virtual reality is taking pain control to a new level.


Hunderson, Carter. (2001). How the Internet is changing our lives. The Futurist [Online], 35(4), p. 38-45. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=15:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=2:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=2:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001,December 2]
Summary:
The article describes ways in which the Internet is affecting various aspects of human life with a focus on the economic aspects. According to the article, the biggest payoff lies in the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and services. These savings are making American companies even more successful competitors in world markets, as the rest of the world remains less wired. This results in better prices for customers and higher profits for themselves, much of it deriving from advanced ways of reducing costs. However, on a final note, it poses a question about where Internet is driving us to and whether it is really for the better.

Risks

Berson, Michael J. (2000). The computer can't see you blush. Kappa Delta Pi Record. [Online], 36(4), p. 158-62. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=27:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=3:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=3:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]
Summary:
The article addresses to the problems and risks on the Internet in general. The lack of restrictions and the anonymity of the Web threaten the safety and emotional well being of young people nowadays. Our society is moving towards a culture of deception. Online interactions of young people are primarily exchanges of sexually suggestive or verbally abusive chat. Other risks associated with increased interaction in virtual reality include exposure to difficult content, vulnerability to abuse, and deterioration of "real-world" relationships resulting in possible isolation and depression. However, the negative effects of Internet use are not inevitable. The article concludes that educators should be prepared and present the best defense for young people confronting these dangers.

Naylor, T. H. (2001) Trading our souls for virtual reality [Online], Across the Board 38(4). p. 19. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=10:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, December 2]

Quittner, Joshua. (1995). From god@heaven.org. Time. [Online],145, p. 65.
Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=30:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=10:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=10:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]



Gender and Simulation

Lippa, R.A. (2000). Gender-Related Traits in Gay Men, Lesbian Women, and Heterosexual Men and Women: The Virtual Identity of Homosexual-Heterosexual Diagnosticity and Gender Diagnosticity. Journal of Personality [Online], 68(5). P.899-926. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw13-64368-cueze76q-je6jjr:entitypagenum=44:0:rule=100:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=ECO_FT:recno=9:resultset=11:ftformat=PDF:format=BI:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=9:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=ECO_FT: [2000]

Pham, A. (2001, May 17). Boy, You Fight Like a Girl. Los Angeles Times. [Online], p. C1. Available:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000041409jul010.story [2001, November 23]

Virtual/Cyber Sex

Slaton, J. (1999, February 11). Virtual Sex for the Rest of Us. Wired News. [Online] Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,17849,00.html [2001, November 23].

Stein, Joel. (2000, June 19) Will cybersex be better than real sex? Time. [Online], 155(25) p. 62-4. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=4:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=4:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=4:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].

Relationships online versus offline

Collins, L. (1999). Emotional adultery: cybersex and commitment. Social Theory and Practice 25 [Online], 25(2). p. 243-70. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=19:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=1:resultset=3:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=1:entityemailfullresultset=3:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].

Parks, M.R. & Roberts.L.D. [1998] 'Making MOOsic': The Development of Personal Relationships on Line and a Comparison to their Off-Line Counterparts, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships [Online], 15(4), p. 517-537. Available:
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/DARead?key=0265-4075%252819980801%252915%253A4%253C517%253AMMTDOP%253E%26sp02sw11-34696-cu234f2b-glupam%267a9bf1a86d32941a2106eb26e5e07e64dbe88131b10240daf1b7f0cad209d2eb&sessionid=0&db=ECO_FT&format=PDF [2001, November 23].

Welcome to Elaine's Blog

Journal Assignment #4

Virtual Reality

Identity in Virtual Reality in general

Briggs, John C. (1996). The promise of virtual reality. The Futurist [Online], 30, p. 13-18. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=35:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=14:resultset=4:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=14:entityemailfullresultset=4:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts for the promises of virtual reality. It defines virtual reality as a three-dimensional, computer-generated simulation, which the user is offered another environment to move around, interact with, and become immersed in. The article speculates that rapid technological innovation in the form of faster computers, better software, and new devices to inform the senses are expected to improve virtual reality and its usefulness in the following ten years. Present and future applications of virtual reality are considered in architecture and construction, art, business, disability, education and training, engineering, entertainment, marketing, medicine, military, religion, and sex.



Lombard, M & Ditton T. (1997). At the Heart of It All:The Concept of Presence. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (Online), 3(2). Available:
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue2/lombard.html#rZillmanBrynat
[2001,November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts virtual reality and other emerging technologies offer a larger degree of presence than traditional media such as radio, telephone, film and many others. In other words, virtual reality and other new technologies are “hot” media which are designed to provide media users with an illusion that a mediated experience is not mediated, a perception defined here as presence. This article examines the key concept of presence and discusses the causes and effects of presence in different medias. The important factors for generating a sense of presence are the number of sensory output and input channels as well as the consistency of information in the different modalities. Effects of presence on the other hand are related to arousal, vection and motion sickness, and a number of other physiological changes. The article concludes with suggestions for future systematic research about presence.


Benefits

Frishberg, M. (2001, March 6). Virtual Snow Melts Away Pain. Wired News. [Online]
Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,1282,42084,00.html [2001, December 1]
Summary:
Music therapy or distractions with videotapes has long been known to help reduction pain. The article talks about possibilities of using virtual reality to distract patients from pain. It introduces a new virtual reality game called SnowWorld, which can be a soothing escape for burn patients. It is made to distract burn victims from the agonies that they are put through daily as their wounds are scrubbed clean to prevent infection and their skin-grafted limbs are exercised to help stretch the growing tissue. The article also talks about other new medical efforts using virtual reality like SpiderWorld. With lower cost and great potentials for medical treatment, virtual reality is taking pain control to a new level.


Hunderson, Carter. (2001). How the Internet is changing our lives. The Futurist [Online], 35(4), p. 38-45. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=15:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=2:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=2:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001,December 2]
Summary:
The article describes ways in which the Internet is affecting various aspects of human life with a focus on the economic aspects. According to the article, the biggest payoff lies in the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and services. These savings are making American companies even more successful competitors in world markets, as the rest of the world remains less wired. This results in better prices for customers and higher profits for themselves, much of it deriving from advanced ways of reducing costs. However, on a final note, it poses a question about where Internet is driving us to and whether it is really for the better.

Risks

Berson, Michael J. (2000). The computer can't see you blush. Kappa Delta Pi Record. [Online], 36(4), p. 158-62. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=27:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=3:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=3:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]
Summary:
The article addresses to the problems and risks on the Internet in general. The lack of restrictions and the anonymity of the Web threaten the safety and emotional well being of young people nowadays. Our society is moving towards a culture of deception. Online interactions of young people are primarily exchanges of sexually suggestive or verbally abusive chat. Other risks associated with increased interaction in virtual reality include exposure to difficult content, vulnerability to abuse, and deterioration of "real-world" relationships resulting in possible isolation and depression. However, the negative effects of Internet use are not inevitable. The article concludes that educators should be prepared and present the best defense for young people confronting these dangers.

Naylor, T. H. (2001) Trading our souls for virtual reality [Online], Across the Board 38(4). p. 19. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=10:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, December 2]

Quittner, Joshua. (1995). From god@heaven.org. Time. [Online],145, p. 65.
Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=30:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=10:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=10:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]



Gender and Simulation

Lippa, R.A. (2000). Gender-Related Traits in Gay Men, Lesbian Women, and Heterosexual Men and Women: The Virtual Identity of Homosexual-Heterosexual Diagnosticity and Gender Diagnosticity. Journal of Personality [Online], 68(5). P.899-926. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw13-64368-cueze76q-je6jjr:entitypagenum=44:0:rule=100:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=ECO_FT:recno=9:resultset=11:ftformat=PDF:format=BI:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=9:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=ECO_FT: [2000]

Pham, A. (2001, May 17). Boy, You Fight Like a Girl. Los Angeles Times. [Online], p. C1. Available:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000041409jul010.story [2001, November 23]

Virtual/Cyber Sex

Slaton, J. (1999, February 11). Virtual Sex for the Rest of Us. Wired News. [Online] Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,17849,00.html [2001, November 23].

Stein, Joel. (2000, June 19) Will cybersex be better than real sex? Time. [Online], 155(25) p. 62-4. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=4:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=4:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=4:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].

Relationships online versus offline

Collins, L. (1999). Emotional adultery: cybersex and commitment. Social Theory and Practice 25 [Online], 25(2). p. 243-70. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=19:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=1:resultset=3:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=1:entityemailfullresultset=3:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].

Parks, M.R. & Roberts.L.D. [1998] 'Making MOOsic': The Development of Personal Relationships on Line and a Comparison to their Off-Line Counterparts, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships [Online], 15(4), p. 517-537. Available:
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/DARead?key=0265-4075%252819980801%252915%253A4%253C517%253AMMTDOP%253E%26sp02sw11-34696-cu234f2b-glupam%267a9bf1a86d32941a2106eb26e5e07e64dbe88131b10240daf1b7f0cad209d2eb&sessionid=0&db=ECO_FT&format=PDF [2001, November 23].

Journal Assignment #4
Virtual Reality

Identity in Virtual Reality in general

Briggs, John C. (1996). The promise of virtual reality. The Futurist [Online], 30, p. 13-18. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=35:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=14:resultset=4:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=14:entityemailfullresultset=4:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23]

Lombard, M & Ditton T. (1997). At the Heart of It All:The Concept of Presence. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication(Online), 3(2). Available:
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue2/lombard.html#rZillmanBrynat
[2001,November 23]


Benefits

Frishberg, M. (2001, March 6). Virtual Snow Melts Away Pain. Wired News. [Online]
Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,1282,42084,00.html



Risks
Berson, Michael J. (2000). The computer can't see you blush. Kappa Delta Pi Record. [Online], 36(4), p. 158-62. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=27:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=3:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=3:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]

Quittner, Joshua. (1995). From god@heaven.org. Time.[Online],145, p. 65.
Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=30:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=10:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=10:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]

Naylor, T. H. (2001) Trading our souls for virtual reality , Across the Board [Online], 38(4). p. 19. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=10:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, December 2]

Gender and Simulation

Lippa, R.A. (2000). Gender-Related Traits in Gay Men, Lesbian Women, and Heterosexual Men and Women: The Virtual Identity of Homosexual-Heterosexual Diagnosticity and Gender Diagnosticity. Journal of Personality [Online], 68(5). P.899-926. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw13-64368-cueze76q-je6jjr:entitypagenum=44:0:rule=100:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=ECO_FT:recno=9:resultset=11:ftformat=PDF:format=BI:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=9:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=ECO_FT: [2000]

Pham, A. (2001, May 17). Boy, You Fight Like a Girl. Los Angeles Times. [Online], p. C1. Available:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000041409jul010.story [2001, November 23]

Virtual/Cyber Sex

Slaton, J. (1999, February 11). Virtual Sex for the Rest of Us. Wired News. [Online] Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,17849,00.html [2001, November 23].

Stein, Joel. (2000, June 19) Will cybersex be better than real sex? Time. [Online], 155(25) p. 62-4. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=4:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=4:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=4:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].

Relationships online versus offline

Collins, L. (1999). Emotional adultery: cybersex and commitment. Social Theory and Practice [Online], 25(2). p. 243-70. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=19:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=1:resultset=3:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=1:entityemailfullresultset=3:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].

Parks, M.R. & Roberts.L.D. [1998] 'Making MOOsic': The Development of Personal Relationships on Line and a Comparison to their Off-Line Counterparts, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships [Online], 15(4), p. 517-537. Available:
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/DARead?key=0265-4075%252819980801%252915%253A4%253C517%253AMMTDOP%253E%26sp02sw11-34696-cu234f2b-glupam%267a9bf1a86d32941a2106eb26e5e07e64dbe88131b10240daf1b7f0cad209d2eb&sessionid=0&db=ECO_FT&format=PDF [2001, November 23].

Journal Assignment #4

Virtual Reality

Identity in Virtual Reality in general

Briggs, John C. (1996). The promise of virtual reality. The Futurist [Online], 30, p. 13-18. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=35:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=14:resultset=4:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=14:entityemailfullresultset=4:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts for the promises of virtual reality. It defines virtual reality as a three-dimensional, computer-generated simulation, which the user is offered another environment to move around, interact with, and become immersed in. The article speculates that rapid technological innovation in the form of faster computers, better software, and new devices to inform the senses are expected to improve virtual reality and its usefulness in the following ten years. Present and future applications of virtual reality are considered in architecture and construction, art, business, disability, education and training, engineering, entertainment, marketing, medicine, military, religion, and sex.



Lombard, M & Ditton T. (1997). At the Heart of It All:The Concept of Presence. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication (Online), 3(2). Available:
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue2/lombard.html#rZillmanBrynat
[2001,November 23]
Summary:
The article accounts virtual reality and other emerging technologies offer a larger degree of presence than traditional media such as radio, telephone, film and many others. In other words, virtual reality and other new technologies are “hot” media which are designed to provide media users with an illusion that a mediated experience is not mediated, a perception defined here as presence. This article examines the key concept of presence and discusses the causes and effects of presence in different medias. The important factors for generating a sense of presence are the number of sensory output and input channels as well as the consistency of information in the different modalities. Effects of presence on the other hand are related to arousal, vection and motion sickness, and a number of other physiological changes. The article concludes with suggestions for future systematic research about presence.


Benefits

Frishberg, M. (2001, March 6). Virtual Snow Melts Away Pain. Wired News. [Online]
Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,1282,42084,00.html [2001, December 1]
Summary:
Music therapy or distractions with videotapes has long been known to help reduction pain. The article talks about possibilities of using virtual reality to distract patients from pain. It introduces a new virtual reality game called SnowWorld, which can be a soothing escape for burn patients. It is made to distract burn victims from the agonies that they are put through daily as their wounds are scrubbed clean to prevent infection and their skin-grafted limbs are exercised to help stretch the growing tissue. The article also talks about other new medical efforts using virtual reality like SpiderWorld. With lower cost and great potentials for medical treatment, virtual reality is taking pain control to a new level.


Hunderson, Carter. (2001). How the Internet is changing our lives. The Futurist [Online], 35(4), p. 38-45. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=15:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=2:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=2:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001,December 2]
Summary:
The article describes ways in which the Internet is affecting various aspects of human life with a focus on the economic aspects. According to the article, the biggest payoff lies in the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and services. These savings are making American companies even more successful competitors in world markets, as the rest of the world remains less wired. This results in better prices for customers and higher profits for themselves, much of it deriving from advanced ways of reducing costs. However, on a final note, it poses a question about where Internet is driving us to and whether it is really for the better.

Risks

Berson, Michael J. (2000). The computer can't see you blush. Kappa Delta Pi Record. [Online], 36(4), p. 158-62. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=27:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=3:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=3:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]
Summary:
The article addresses to the problems and risks on the Internet in general. The lack of restrictions and the anonymity of the Web threaten the safety and emotional well being of young people nowadays. Our society is moving towards a culture of deception. Online interactions of young people are primarily exchanges of sexually suggestive or verbally abusive chat. Other risks associated with increased interaction in virtual reality include exposure to difficult content, vulnerability to abuse, and deterioration of "real-world" relationships resulting in possible isolation and depression. However, the negative effects of Internet use are not inevitable. The article concludes that educators should be prepared and present the best defense for young people confronting these dangers.

Naylor, T. H. (2001) Trading our souls for virtual reality [Online], Across the Board 38(4). p. 19. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw01-33434-curl9g3i-57x0w2:entitypagenum=10:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=8:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=8:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, December 2]

Quittner, Joshua. (1995). From god@heaven.org. Time. [Online],145, p. 65.
Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp01sw03-34677-cuqig8h9-pqz6gn:entitypagenum=30:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelectPlus_FT:recno=10:resultset=11:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=10:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelectPlus_FT: [2001, December 1]



Gender and Simulation

Lippa, R.A. (2000). Gender-Related Traits in Gay Men, Lesbian Women, and Heterosexual Men and Women: The Virtual Identity of Homosexual-Heterosexual Diagnosticity and Gender Diagnosticity. Journal of Personality [Online], 68(5). P.899-926. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp03sw13-64368-cueze76q-je6jjr:entitypagenum=44:0:rule=100:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=ECO_FT:recno=9:resultset=11:ftformat=PDF:format=BI:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=9:entityemailfullresultset=11:entityemailftfrom=ECO_FT: [2000]

Pham, A. (2001, May 17). Boy, You Fight Like a Girl. Los Angeles Times. [Online], p. C1. Available:
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-000041409jul010.story [2001, November 23]

Virtual/Cyber Sex

Slaton, J. (1999, February 11). Virtual Sex for the Rest of Us. Wired News. [Online] Available:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,17849,00.html [2001, November 23].

Stein, Joel. (2000, June 19) Will cybersex be better than real sex? Time. [Online], 155(25) p. 62-4. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=4:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=4:resultset=1:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=4:entityemailfullresultset=1:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].

Relationships online versus offline

Collins, L. (1999). Emotional adultery: cybersex and commitment. Social Theory and Practice 25 [Online], 25(2). p. 243-70. Available:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/FTFETCH?sessionid=sp04sw05-42350-cuf3k1ap-taxc4u:entitypagenum=19:0:rule=990:fetchtype=fulltext:dbname=WilsonSelect_FT:recno=1:resultset=3:ftformat=ASCII:format=T:isbillable=TRUE:numrecs=1:isdirectarticle=FALSE:entityemailfullrecno=1:entityemailfullresultset=3:entityemailftfrom=WilsonSelect_FT: [2001, November 23].

Parks, M.R. & Roberts.L.D. [1998] 'Making MOOsic': The Development of Personal Relationships on Line and a Comparison to their Off-Line Counterparts, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships [Online], 15(4), p. 517-537. Available:
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/DARead?key=0265-4075%252819980801%252915%253A4%253C517%253AMMTDOP%253E%26sp02sw11-34696-cu234f2b-glupam%267a9bf1a86d32941a2106eb26e5e07e64dbe88131b10240daf1b7f0cad209d2eb&sessionid=0&db=ECO_FT&format=PDF [2001, November 23].

Journal assignment #3
Lee, G.B. Addressing Anonymous Messages in Cyberspace. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication(Online), 2(1). Available: http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol2/issue1/anon.html [June 1996]

The “information highway” makes possible for the potential of anonymity as the Internet enables us to hide our real identity. While some people enjoy anonymity, it also gives rise to problems like deception and harassment. According to the article, the arguments for and against anonymous communications online fall into three main categories—informative, group pressure, and enforcement effects. The article then suggests a measure to regulate anonymity, that is to require anonymously mailed message to be identified clearly as anonymous on the header. This is a regulation that provides minimal restrictions and promotes Visible Anonymity, as opposed to Invisible Anonymity, which means “the quality of being anonymous without ever being recognized as being such. While the proposal helps lessen the harm of anonymous message and at the same time preserving positive aspects of it, numerous problems associated with anonymity still remain.

With all these problems, I think the potential for anonymity is still desirable, given that it is one of the most attractive aspects of the Internet. As mentioned in the article, anonymity helps minimize group pressure. Other interactions such as face-to-face dialogue and phone calls need confrontation and disclosure, which tends to stifle expression of socially undesirable speech. By contrast, anonymity can protect people from embarrassment or being attacked because of their expressions of unpopular ideas. In other words, anonymity promotes free speech. It also helps people who are afraid of revealing themselves too much to communicate their ideas and concerns or seek help without people knowing who they are. Also, being stripped of their cultural charge, people are free to give their opinions with being biased against.

The proposal given in the journal article sounds reasonable. It can really help screen out Spam on the Internet. What is more annoying than receiving Emails from someone called “Tom” or “Betty” but the message is actually ads like “Win a holiday” or “Breast Enlargement”? I was being tricked to open all these messages all the time. Yet there are a number of things that it did not take into account. The lure of invisible anonymity is that we can be anyone. This ties in with the culture of flexibility on the Internet where individuals can play multiple personas. Visible anonymity suggested in the proposal, however, does not tolerate the “protean self” and made it mandatory for people to say they are anonymous. According to Turkle, “health” on the Net is not in terms of stability but fluidity. Invisible anonymity is therefore necessarily for the “health” of the Internet.
Also, though visible anonymity preserved the idea of Free speech, individuals can still get away with harmful speeches or behaviors online since their identities are unknown.
As a result it cannot really address to concerns of hatred, harassment, violence, impersonation, libel and copyright infringement online.

A better solution will be the idea of panopticon. When people know there are being watched, they are more likely to behave. Merely the awareness of surveillance is enough.
The idea of self-surveillance fulfils the three criteria suggested by the article. First, panopticon can preserve the positive aspects of the anonymous messages yet make sure people would not take advantage of their ability to be anonymous. Second, this is a minimal restriction since people just knew that they are being watched. Nothing really is done to regulate. It is just a way of control playing with people’s psychology. Third, this is totally enforceable.

In fact, I think the damage anonymity done on the Internet is limited. People cannot be physically hurt. Most serious crimes over the net can only involved offensive speeches or computer virus. It may have victimized some people and hurt them emotionally. It may also destroy your hard drive of your computer. However these kinds of damages can be healed overtime and cannot endangered someone’s life. You can always buy a new computer too. These damages are incomparable to something like the Anthrax letters in the mail which can lead to person’s death. I believe people tend to exaggerate the problems online. I think anonymity online should be a concern. Yet it is not as serious as the anonymity in mail.

The article presents a rather objective perspective on the technology of Internet and the idea of anonymity as it talks about both vice and virtues of the nature of the media.
While Internet is still a new way of mass communication, many problems are yet to be solved. In history, every technology has its drawbacks. For instance writing as a technology was criticized to be diminishing our ability to memorize. People also said TV would make everyone becomes introverts. All in all, people will be able to maximizing the advantages of anonymity online and we will find the best solution to its problems over time.

COMM 202 Journal #2

I started to gain access to the Internet 5 years ago. Yet it took so long to load the sites that I wasn’t motivated to go online. Later, with the introduction of high-speed modem, I started to interact on the net using E-mails and chat rooms. Once I was introduced to the instant messaging tool- ICQ, I was totally addicted to it. Whenever my friends called, I would tell them that I preferred chatting with them through ICQ. I can interact with many different people at the same time on ICQ, whereas I could only concentrate to one person on the phone. During the summer in 1998, I usually stayed at home all day and chatted with people online rather than going out with friends. In fact, my parents were strict and I couldn’t go out all the time anyway. I became a computer addict at that time.

Emails and ICQ become vital communication tools to me when I left my home Hong Kong and came here for college. I go online all the time since I have Ethernet in my dorm room. Usually I keep my ICQ window open and do other things. That means I will IM with people when I am studying or doing homework. I keep in touch with my friends in Hong Kong through E-mails and ICQ. As long distance calls are expensive, I would rather chat with my friends in Hong Kong online. However, it sacrifices my relationship with friends who are not wired. I seldom kept in touch with them as I expect to contact all my friends through Internet rather than letters or phone calls. As for my family, I still talked to them mainly on the phone, yet sometimes we would use Emails too. My parents, especially my mom, were reluctant to use E-mail before I went to the States. Yet after I came to USC, they started to use E-mails to communicate with me since they realized E-mail is a good way to reach me beside long distance phone calls.

I also use ICQ to meet friends and sustain friendship. When I first came to USC, I didn’t know anyone. I found ICQ a great tool to search for other fellow Trojans who are also from Hong Kong. Also whenever I met a new person in real life, we will usually exchange phone number as well as ICQ number. Then we usually go online and chat on ICQ and talk on the phone only when necessary. Of course we also have lunch or go out together, but whenever we are at home, our main way of communication will be instant messaging. For my friends in Hong Kong, though I can’t interact with them face-to-face, I can still talk to them about personal matters through instant messaging and E-mails.

I think it is better to use Internet to communicate with people individually rather as groups. After I graduated from high school, some of my ex-classmates wanted to organize an online community so that we can stay connected to each other. We all joined something called an E-circle at www.ecircles.com. In the E-circle, we can post messages, make announcements and upload files. However, I found that most of us didn’t pay attention to it at all after they joined it. A few were enthusiastic about it and kept posting messages at first, but later on all of us started to forget about the whole thing. Now when I went to www.ecircles.com, it says ecircles.com will no longer be available and is permanently shut down. This proves that sometimes websites are not so reliable. Also, I think the online community we created somehow mirrored the reality. My high school friends and I went to different colleges and mingled with different people. We were busy with our lives and we have less common ground. Either online or offline, it is natural that we stopped keeping in touch. Of course, there are some exceptions. That’s why I would prefer person-to-person interaction than group communication.

I usually use E-mail to contact my TAs and professors as most of them said they preferred E-mails. Some classes used Blackboard or class websites to make announcement, upload and download documents and post grades. I found these virtual tools very useful. In the past, the teachers used to be very distant and could not be reached out of school. Now, whenever I came up with questions for the class or homework, I can send an E-mail to ask the teacher immediately. All in all, it encourages me to raise questions and enables me to communicate with my professors or TA s personally.

Internet really alters my way of communication and my relationships drastically. I can say I spend more time on virtual communication than real life interaction. Of course there are also pitfalls for communicating online. Unable to get online will be my worst nightmare. A few years ago, there was one time that my computer was infected by the CIH virus. I couldn’t even open my computer and enter Windows. I still remember those lonely nights back then before I fixed my computer. I was totally helpless and I desperately wanted to get online. I have tried to call some friends up but I realize that they can’t spend so much time on the phone like they did on ICQ. That incident may prove that I rely on the computer and Internet too much. Still, I think it is a systematic and effective way of communication.

COMM 202 Journal #1

Link to the article


The article draws attention to the racial issues brought about by the Internet and criticizes the Utopian vision of the Internet as a global village. The anonymousness of people on the Net seemed liberating at first, but in fact it leads to a” default whiteness” in cyberspace. People assume you are white since there isn’t any visual indicator of race on the Internet. Moreover, Internet might be promoting racial stereotypes. For instance, people create and act out racial characters in MUDs and thought that they really understand what it meant to be a minority. The article then suggests that more scholarship should focus on discussing the question of race in cyberspace. At the same time, visual devices online like Webcams and Videoconferencing might be a way to express cultural identity online.


The article brings out the problem of net-related racism and sought for more discussion by scholars. I tend to agree with the article’s claim that a race-free cyberspace is not as idealistic as it seems. Racism is present in the cyberspace even though the lure of the Internet is supposed to be creating a race-free utopia where everyone is not judged by his or her race. In fact, “part of the utopian myth of the Net assumes that race is only a burden, when in fact the burden is racism”. The article is essentially condemning the widespread utopian vision of Internet as a race-free global village.

The article also poses the danger of the culture of simulation, which causes the blurring of reality and the virtual world. Some people believe that they can understand the complexities of being a minority while they act out racial stereotypes in MUDs once or twice. This affects their attitude towards particular races, which they become less sympathetic. While people are fascinated by anonymous social interaction, the article reminds us of the disparity between real life and virtual world. Cultural experiences are unique and stereotypes are far from reality. The so-called “identity tourism” cannot make you a Latino, African American, or any other race. We are still bound by our own race and culture from our life offline even though we can create multiple identities online. This reminds me of Turkle’s story which she realized that somebody was impersonating her on a MUD. She was annoyed and feeling out of control. Similarly, it is as disturbing to people of a particular race knowing that somebody is acting out a false imitation of their race.

As long as the default mode of cyberspace is White, it troubles people of other ethnic origin. As a Chinese, I was always being mistaken as a Caucasian when I go to public chat-rooms. Whenever I insist I am Asian, people start to act differently towards me. Many users simply ignore me when I tell them I am Chinese. In social interactions online, most non-White users feel like outsiders. Often, people left racist comment since they have the assumption that all people in the chat-room are Whites and they can be irresponsible for what they said since they cannot be identified online.

The absence of racial distinctions and the default “Whiteness” has stifled manifestations of the cultural identity of other races. Besides blaming the nature of the text-based online interaction, the existence of the “Digital Divide” also account for that. There is a predominance of Caucasian, especially Americans, over other ethnic groups in terms of Internet access. There are only 6% of the overall world population that has access to Internet, and 41% of that comes from USA and Canada. Furthermore, most websites are written in English. Many people who have a different race and/or different language are always intimidated by the overwhelming “white” presence on the Net.

In order to let minorities express their authentic identity online, the article suggests that we can move towards a more visual Internet. That is, from the traditional text-based interaction, we can go on to video conferencing. However, I don’t think that new technology should completely replace the text-based tools of communication online. Their relationship is like books and television. The text-based media of chat-rooms, MUDs and MOOs are in fact cold medium since they require high level of participation but with low definition as they are very little information about each person u are chatting with. You can just see their messages and imagine how they look like. On the other hand, video conferencing is hot as it is low in participation but high in definition. You can meet the person face-to-face and hear his/her voice over the Net. Both media has their own advantages and disadvantages. Like books and TV, television is popular but it does not completely overtaken books.

In my opinion, even though a race-free environment in the cyberspace can become the haven for racism, we should leave for people to choose whether they want to disclose their ethnic identity online for reasons of privacy and freedom. People should differentiate for themselves what is real and what is not. In fact, I believe that as more and more people gain access to the Internet, the more diverse it will become. Eventually, the gap of the Digital Divide will become smaller and this will be the end of the “white” dominance of the Internet. Yet this will probably take some time.