The Reality of VR: Psychological Tactics of the Internet

When I was a kid, I remember playing Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions. Kojima always has a way of discussing modern problems through his games. The video game put the player in a virtual reality (VR) of the Metal Gear Solid universe, and then proceeded to talk about brainwashing in our society!

So what are we talking about here? Lets just take a step back and think about the nature of the internet today.

In his G4 presentation, industry innovator Jesse Schell discusses the reality of video games today, and how they've adapted to current market trends. No longer do video games concentrate solely on creating a separate, believable reality. Social media games such as Farmville, Mafia Wars and Club Penguin capitalize on linking the value of the game with our own lives.
Schell argues that it is the lack of reality in our virtually-saturated lives that makes this tactic possible. Since we've been immersed in so much technology for the past 20 years, it's like we've forgotten about what's real. We've nearly lost our connection with nature. In today's market, everyone claims that their product is "all-natural", and "100% real" to give themselves that image of reconnecting us with nature. Yet, we know deep down that none of this social media stuff is real, right? Maybe we'll forget what's real. So what happens when we can't tell the difference is that we get stuck in this habitual, self-sustaining process:

We're on the internet too much and want to revisit our real lives, so we "buy into" products/services that exist on the internet which claim to be reconnect us with part of reality, yet we're still in this virtual reality. Is this the future? Sure there's GREAT potential to make money here. But at what cost? How long do you guys feel we can take this until our bodies just start to fight back? There are some real ethical boundaries here. Let me know your thoughts.

sketch the moment,
Jon

Recess on the Internet

Up today is Ze Frank. He is known for his playful contributions to the online community and possesses deadly skill in creativity. Proceed with care.

In his TED Presentation, online performance artist, Ze Frank demonstrates the proper way to connect with people over the internet. He's very convincing with his argument. So it becomes clear how "a fun online experience of connecting millions of people" is a market today. Individuals like Ze Frank charge head on to the idea that life can happen on the net, and it can get very touching, Disney touching. Miracle on 34th Street touching! And not that this is a problem!

My point here ladies and gents, is that from here on out there will be an ongoing debate, an eternal battle, an endless duel between life in 2D and life in 4D. While most of use can agree that communication is healthier when you can smell that calm shampoo of your attractive business associate, we still spend nearly 60% of our free time on the doorsteps of other people's home pages. And it's obvious why we do it too! It's faster and it's easier!

Does anyone else see the dilemma here? We just can't get enough of that 21st-century-crack called the internet, due to it's narcotic characteristics of increased productivity and outreach. If we were to stop, we wouldn't be connected anymore. And we've already touched on how it can be problematic to replace real human interaction. Take a look at the video again.

Okay, now that you're back, do you think this level on integration will be the remedy for this paradox? Do you think this style of human interaction via the internet will eventually surpass our previous idea of human interaction? Has it already?

And lastly, lets put ourselves into our own hypothetical future. I like hypothetical futures. Go ahead and give yourself one of those big chairs Tony Montana had, and pick your favorite cars to drive a couple of feet to work with. You now own a multi-billion dollar company which is synonymous with emotion on the internet. At this point, if everyone's time and activity on the internet, including your own, is directly proportional with your salary, would you sacrifice some time on the internet to spend with someone the gold-fashioned way, knowing it will cost you millions? I'm sure by then, Mark Zuckerberg's grandson will invent a service which allows online friends to meet each other in person, and watch YouTube videos in large dark boxes. He will call it a movie theatre.

Ze Frank recognizes the shift here. Sometimes it's best to just make the best of what's happening. Let me know your thoughts.

sketch the moment,
Jonathan

The Modern Market Economy: Evolution or Devolution

"It's a story about us. People. Being persuaded to spend money we don't have on things we don't need to create impressions that don't last on people we don't care about."

In this excerpt from his presentation over at TED, economist Tim Jackson discusses the status of our international economy and the perception that currently drives it. It should be understood that to keep our game running, we need to have players. In order to attain economic growth, we first need a healthy market. Jackson's point is that our current philosophy in attaining economic growth is not suitable for our current situation. And what is that situation you ask? This is the first time in history that a recession actually helps the even larger global issue of the overallocation of natural resources. Since our output is not as high, we aren't using as much. This means that if we were to continue having an expanding international economy, if all rules still apply, it would continue to hurt our environment. Yet, the only way to escape this current recession is to collectively spend money and keep the wheels turning. So we can't make a move and we're in this position of stalemate.

That's clearly stalemate.


This situation has three obvious actions:

1.) Regenerate the economy, continue to expand internationally by increasing carbon levels in the atmosphere and making Captain Planet angry. I'm sure this will eventually lead to some unhealthy outcome. Pick your favorite Science Fiction disaster movie.

2.) We can continue in our recession since it's so "green". This solution is not very expansive and will definitely decrease the standard of living for most people in the long-term.

3.) We can somehow change what we want, and have that desire be both highly marketable and healthy in terms of environmental effects.

The third option above is almost like changing the rules of Chess to escape a stalemate. Sure it's possible, and will probably upset the very best of Chess players. But it seems to be the best option to achieve the most desired outcome.

This is a very big thing we're asking here. In his presentation, Jackson showed a diagram illustrating the human heart.

Notice how I've recreated his illustration with optimal skill:

I've always thought that the reason capitalism works so well is because of the fact that we're so greedy by nature. This skillfully drawn diagram shows where we lie according to Jackson. Apparently in our economy, we want everyone stuck on the new and to be very competitive. So my question to you all:

1.) Is it possible to have a healthy economy without it's consumers remaining Selfish and stuck on Novelty? And if so, how can this desire be marketable?

2.) If we can shift our wants, how long do you think this will take? Can we do this in 50 years? How about by the end of the century?

The Right Brain for the Modern World

Have you ever sat down and really thought about which direction our modern world is moving in? Okay so maybe you were standing up? Sleeping? Well, whichever it was, I'm sure you've realized the difficulty in imagining that which has not yet happened. After all, this ability to predict the future is a very rare skill limited only to the most accomplished of the Jedi.

So why is all this important you ask? What is all this insane jabber-jaw about fortune telling? Well, I'm glad you've asked these questions! If you've payed attention to technology of the late 20th century, it's no surprise that the internet alone is responsible for much of the success and failure of certain businesses. Just this past Thursday, Blockbuster had declared a Chapter 11 bankruptcy! That is a clear sign that the times have changed. Today, since the world is developing so quickly, it's becoming even more important for businesses to be innovative, and stay ahead of that curve!

Just think if Blockbuster's board members had analyzed how the internet could benefit their business instead of which brand of candy to place by their checkouts. Although there are many factors which have and will continue to contribute to the demise of this video-rental pioneer, failure to effectively utilize the internet as a marketing tool clearly peaks above the clouds as the turning point in the company's history. Strategy is very important when it comes to winning. Not only do future business leaders need to think outside the box to achieve there short-term goals, but they must also remain innovative and move with technology so that they ensure their goals in the long-term.

The ability to not only think outside of but create your own box will prove to be highly significant in the immediate future. Right-brained individuals, who, in contrast to those with a dominant left-brain, possess stronger intuitive characteristics, and are generally viewed as creatives. Today, we need creative individuals innovatively driving our businesses to success. We need refreshing solutions to problems both big and small. While it is still a very nebulous field, we are making many advances in the mapping of the brain. In this TED presentation, neuroscientist Sebastian Seung discusses the project of the connectome, in which he and his colleagues will attempt to map the human brain's neurons and synapses. Much like the genome project, the connectome project will open many doors to how we view the mind.

Perhaps, someday we will actually map the human brain, finding out answers to so many of its mysteries. Maybe all of us can be a Miss Cleo someday (Yes, I went there). Until then, remember to keep the mind on its toes, and practice with those Jedi techniques daily!


sketch the moment
Jonathan Small