Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

Virtual reality worlds allow users to enter an environment where they may experiment with their surroundings and abilities without consequence. In the case of the two articles I will discuss, virtual worlds are used to exercise and practice certain skills. In “Avatar II: The Hospital” by Stephanie Simon for The Wall Street Journal, virtual worlds are being used to simulate the experiences of nurses and doctors. This technology is training students to interact and act appropriately in simulated situations such as a black out in an emergency room full of patients or a schizophrenic patient who is repeating the same thing over and over again. It is standard to read a textbook and sit in on lectures where one is taught to handle these situations but when you are actually placed in one of these high stress moments that is something no class can prepare you for. The virtual world of medicine helps these students get a bit closer to learning how to do their jobs. I do not think any simulation can prepare you for something such as a fire outbreak in the ICU of a hospital but I do think that if the technology exists to get closer to understanding how to act in these situations that it is worth it. I suppose a con in this instance would be students having over confidence in their experience while it still technically or physically speaking doesn't exist. I remember a friend of mine studying nursing came home to tell me about the birth simulation experience she had in class. In the article “iReport: ‘Naughty Auties’ battle autism with virtual interaction” by Nicole Saidi, a virtual world was created in Second Life to help people with or affected by Aspergers. This world was designed to put its users in simulated social situations to help develop social interaction skills, learn how others communicate and to overcome the typical symptoms of Aspergers. Autism researchers are critical of this idea because there is no substantial research on the effects of participation in virtual worlds. Because these worlds exist online without much regulation it is hard to know how all users are affected by their participation. It’s similar to the idea of a wiki in that there are multiple users contributing to the world and not enough security monitoring the truth or effect on the users. I think the future of virtual worlds will be safer for users in that it will be more regulated by an outside authority of internet safety or security.