Modeling Reality with Virtual Worlds

One way that virtual worlds can be used is through the use of virtual healing spaces for returning soldiers.  According to Diane Mehta of forbes, "the the U. S. Army funded the creation of ICT USC in 1999, they were looking for ways to leverage the kind of engagement that Hollywood was able to get—and apply that to better training for the army. I started making virtual training environments that could were more cognitively real, in that they could evoke in soldiers a sense of unease and fear that could make training more realistic."  This is a unique way to harness the power of virtual worlds and use it to benefit a group of people in more ways than one.  Another way that virtual worlds are used is through the game "Minecraft".  Minecraft is an extremely popular virtual game where users and their friends build their own worlds.  Another example of a world similar to Minecraft is given by Saki Knafo of the New York Times, she states "Second Life is a multiuser virtual environment, a computer program that lets online users construct settings and hang out in them, using video-game-like characters called avatars."  It is a similar concept to Minecraft, because it's a world that the users build themselves and hangout with friends in. Some pro's to virtual reality is training soldiers and police officers and making them feel like they are in dangerous spots meanwhile they are not in any danger at all.  This is key because it progresses their training immensely and makes them more qualified for their job.  Another pro is leisure, the use of video games is for the users enjoyment.  Reasons that virtual worlds can be bad is that they can be somewhat addictive.  If people get carried away they may feel like that virtual reality is their real reality.  For instance the "Second Life" software.  Users of Second Life will love hanging out in their virtual world that they don't enjoy hanging out with other humans, that is unhealthy.  Virtual Worlds foster creativity because you can do anything while you're in that world.  If the software gives you the capability to fly then you can fly.  If you want to be a professional athlete you can.  Anything you can dream of is attainable in a virtual world.  Virtual worlds are just going to keep expanding and becoming more and more realistic.  For example the future of first-person shooter video games is going to become the user being the person to shoot people, not just buttons on your controller.