I don't mean this in any way to work counter to Chris Hill's experience. But I do think that it is important to think about what's on the way, technologically speaking. HERE.
I think Virtual Reality is really amazing. Especially the research involved in utilizing VR to remove chronic pain. That being said, (without intending to completely undermine Gadda's experience with it) I am curious as to how much VR can actually make someone feel as if they are physically partaking in the activities they are viewing. Gadda said they made him feel as if he was walking, but he has also been confined to the wheel chair the majority of his life. In the case of Chris Hill, being able to walk, run, jump, ski, ride a motorcycle... had been something he was capable of doing for the majority of his life. Chris knew intimately what it felt like to take part in those activities, and I am unconvinced that VR would be able to compare. It could be, at least, a nice break from looking at himself in the mirror, or dwelling on all that he has lost, but it might also make reentering the real world that much harder. I could be completely wrong, but I wonder whether VR technology would have done much to change Hill's decision.
I think Virtual Reality is really amazing. Especially the research involved in utilizing VR to remove chronic pain. That being said, (without intending to completely undermine Gadda's experience with it) I am curious as to how much VR can actually make someone feel as if they are physically partaking in the activities they are viewing. Gadda said they made him feel as if he was walking, but he has also been confined to the wheel chair the majority of his life. In the case of Chris Hill, being able to walk, run, jump, ski, ride a motorcycle... had been something he was capable of doing for the majority of his life. Chris knew intimately what it felt like to take part in those activities, and I am unconvinced that VR would be able to compare. It could be, at least, a nice break from looking at himself in the mirror, or dwelling on all that he has lost, but it might also make reentering the real world that much harder. I could be completely wrong, but I wonder whether VR technology would have done much to change Hill's decision.
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