PDF - The Metaphysics of Virtual Reality - University of Exeter

discovered how to enhance human vitality by focusing the mind’s internal attention on
the body. Acupuncture, Tai Chi, and yogic healing are based on Taoist tradition.
Eastern philosophy has always sought to unify the mind and the body, to harmonize
outer and inner. Various exercises, from Yoga to Zen and Tai Chi, bring the mind/body
into a harmonious unity. From the Eastern viewpoint, the body houses private, subtle
energy, and this subtle energy remains internal. No representation adequately fixes it in
images. The strength of the mind/body grows when the mind’s attention synchronizes
with the internal energy. Meditators and martial artists join awareness to the breathing
process, because breathing links the subconscious autonomic nervous system to conscious
life. One sign of the disruption of the smooth flow of internal energy is holding
the breath. Holding the breath or shallow breathing is the respiratory equivalent of the
stare we typically use at the interface. And when we stare, we usually hold our breath.
The deepest peril of the interface is that we may lose touch with our inner states.
By inner states, I do not mean anything arcane. The Taoists urge us to contact our
inner physical organs, to "see" our liver, "smell" our lungs, and "taste" our heart. By
this they mean something quite simple. They mean not to lose the acute sensitivity to
our bodies, the simplest kinds of awareness like kinesthetic body movement, organic
discomfort, and propriosensory activities like breathing, balance, and shifting weight.
The loss of such simple inner states may seem trivial. Taken as a whole, however, this
awareness constitutes the background for the psychic life of the individual. "The body
is the temple of the spirit."
One far-seeing inventor of virtual-reality systems, Myron Krueger, has dedicated
his life to bringing full freedom of body movement to the interface. His work has yet
to blossom, as most developers produce systems that shackle the body with goggles,
gloves, and datasuits. But even if we learn to interact with computerized objects and
remain unencumbered by oppressive VR systems, will we maintain enough power
of additional awareness needed for both primary and secondary worlds—at the same
time? At the very least, we will need
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