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Anonymous
April 12, 2014
Question

Oculus Rift: another escape instead of Drugs?

Hi People and fellow Rifters

I got into a discussion on another forum a little while back, I'm curious to know what peoples views are on VR in general being an alternative escapism instead of drugs?

On the other forum I won't mention which one, but when I aired my views on this matter there was at first a really positive vibe! Which got highly up-voted then for some reason really down-voted? The thing is I honeslty believe that VR could actually offer the escapism a lot of people seek where in other positions they could potentially turn to drugs for the escapism that they're looking for!

I think VR is powerful enough to offer this other medium, it's something that maybe just a screen can't offer (full immersion) personally I don't take drugs but I've had a colourful past! And I've definitely lived! So I hope that answers members curiosities?

Would just like to know if people share the same view as in VR is as powerful as I believe it is going to be? I'm in no way saying it could cure the drug problems society faces today but merely an alternate some of us may not have been lucky enough to have access to.

    38 replies

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    Anonymous
    April 16, 2014
    Thanks for the links looks like a lot of work went into them videos! I like the hallucination one it works surprisingly well considering you just watch it on a phone/monitor all this sort of stuff in the Rift would be on another level completely!
    geekmaster
    Up and Coming
    April 16, 2014
    I did this little (non-Rift) demo more than a year ago:
    http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=143&t=16565#p104470

    And you can download a copy here below. Be sure to let it run to completion (on a Windows box). A member at MTBS3D said the experience this demo gives was just like peyote, as he imagined it. I need to port it to a Rift VR world...
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    Anonymous
    April 16, 2014
    Geekmaster

    Really appreciate you putting them videos up shows how much art work goes into games/experiences etc.... I'll admit I couldn't download the link but will do in due course! Like I say the videos you've put up are impressive and show that the Rift is quite capable of taking people to other places! Without any other sort of enhancement which basically answers the original question! The Rift/VR could be used for an alternative escapism! If that's what people are looking for?

    Nice one another positive VR :D
    Malharhak
    New Participant
    April 18, 2014
    This is really inspirational stuff.

    Well games have been used in therapy for years now, so virtual reality will sure have many new public uses. This being one of them probably
    geekmaster
    Up and Coming
    April 18, 2014
    With "binaural beats" brainwave entrainment sound, the mind-altering experience can be much deeper:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwave_entrainment
    http://www.stanford.edu/group/brainwaves/2006/
    http://www.the-guided-meditation-site.com/brainwave-entrainment.html








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    ZeroWaitState
    Up and Coming
    April 20, 2014
    "HAWKEYE481" wrote:


    Even if VR is used for the escapism I mentioned I still believe this is a positive for VR! In general, do you have any links to the research you mentioned? I'm quite interested in the phycological side of VR and gaming.


    It was a number of years ago, I seem to remember it being an interview with Timothy Leary, I have done a few hours google trolling and I couldn't find Amy reference to the article. I did find some interesting vr archive stuff from auto desk a also referring to Timothy Leary , it appears he was an eager proponent of early vr and in its potential to broaden the mind potential.
    "I love the French language. I have sampled every language, French is my favourite - fantastic language, especially to curse with. ..... It's like wiping your arse with silk, I love it." - The Merovingian
    morenosuba
    Up and Coming
    April 20, 2014
    to OP:
    not at this stage. OR is way fun, but i have absolutely no problems putting it away for a few weeks or months. there are are no more addiction properties here than your average conventional gaming platform. Actually, with the current prototype out (DK1), you are basically forced to take breaks because of the nausea.
    while i've never gotten full blown nausea i do get eye strain after a few hours of playing, much more than i would with a regular screen. this in it'self forces me to stop playing and often i don't come back to it until a few days later.

    If they ever completely remove the nausea altogether, as well as eye strain, then it might become quite addicting. however, i do have my doubts that they will able to remove nausea altogether.they may be able to reduce greatly, but really don't think they will be able to remove it completely.
    raidho36
    Up and Coming
    April 20, 2014
    Most people take drugs for fun or out of addiction, which was caused by taking it for fun. So I don't think this problem will be alleviated.
    geekmaster
    Up and Coming
    April 20, 2014
    "raidho36" wrote:
    Most people take drugs for fun or out of addiction, which was caused by taking it for fun. So I don't think this problem will be alleviated.

    Some for medicinal purposes, which is claimed by medical professionals to be non-addictive as well when taken in therapeutic doses.

    But fun itself (no matter the source) can release Dopamines, which certainly ARE addictive if experienced in excess.

    Perhaps the "anti-fun" religious fundamentalists are too far in the opposite direction from most people in these forums, while some of us are too far in the "pro-fun" camp. I think we need a "happy" balance.
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    cepwin
    New Participant
    April 20, 2014
    The problem you have with any new technology or new artform is people who are unfamiliar, especially those in power, often only see the bad, for example, rock music and comic books in the 50's, video games, social media all have, are vilified by people who have no experience with them. VR can end up in the situation unless it also moves mainstream (eg: if NFL broadcasts or something equally popular became VR enabled.)
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