The Virtual Reality of War

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This, the seat of communication, imagination, feeling, and rationality is the fundamental starting point for our collective future.

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Although technology has been in many senses a way out of the darkness, our relationship to material and cognitive innovation is not clear cut. As we immerse ourselves in worlds of our own making the safe havens of digital and concrete jungles , technology blurs the lines of reality and redefines humanity. This intersection poses important questions regarding ethics, psychology, and cultural perceptions of violence that cannot be ignored.

Since the s and perhaps earlier , the cost-cutting and time-saving potential of VR technology has been imagined in the military context by forward-thinkers the world over.

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Together, they allow soldiers to experience and interact with an endless combination of settings and situations. Throughout the years, the needs and interests of the US military have played a central role in shaping research. Today, virtual reality is used by militaries to train soldiers for flying, navigating different battlefield terrains, leadership and coordination, medical emergencies, vehicle control, and even as an alternative boot camp.

A primary exploiter of this emerging field is the American military, long considered a leader in technological innovation with the aid of its notoriously titanic budget. By simulating real-life scenarios, the EST aids soldiers in determining when to pull the trigger in high-pressure situations.

Outside of official US military training grounds, immersive combat and military skill-training simulations are also used for recruitment. Though dramatized, the scenarios created by Infinity Ward and the other developers introduce gamers to an exciting, hyperreal depiction of foreign battlefields and the dynamics of modern warfare. Intended as a way to provide an engaging and entertaining soldier experience to the more computer-adept youth necessary in an increasingly high tech military , the game is branded as a strategic communication device aimed at recruiting the younger American generations.

Through different levels and modes it allows young Americans to virtually explore a realistic depiction of the Army according to their own skills and interests, simultaneously providing information on modern warfare to the gamer, and information about the technology and its users to the military.

How to hack an election—and what states should do to prevent fake votes. Outside of official US military training grounds, immersive combat and military skill-training simulations are also used for recruitment. Here in the United States, meddlers have hijacked Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to generate outrage and spread falsehoods, with political consequences we are only beginning to understand. You can use force powers , get lightsabers , add authentic sound effects , go on an epic quest , and much more. As new generations are raised with the ability to harmlessly dabble in modern warfare and are nonchalantly exposed to what are commonly thought of as horrific scenes, the effects of these experiences on our common standard of ethics and our willingness to engage in war must be assessed. The Norwegian army has pioneered the use of the Rift VR headset to improve visibility for tank drivers in actual combat; the potential of for technology to be adopted in the already-remote practice of drone warfare goes practically without saying. Privacy Preferences I Agree.

Such an ability is a major asset in war scenarios where unfamiliar settings and quick decision making tend to be the norm. The idea behind this is to prepare soldiers for a real, live combat situation.

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It teaches ways of dealing with unexpected events, for example, a sniper attack, but without putting themselves in danger. It is vitally important that they are taught how to react to dangerous settings where the wrong decision may mean the difference between life and death. This is particularly important when training soldiers to become platoon leaders or in any other position of responsibility.

These soldiers know that they are in charge of a group of fit and eager men and women who have to be trained in front line combat. Plus there are the many complex dynamics associated with leading a platoon which can only be learnt in a training situation.

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So where does virtual reality fit into all of this? It teaches soldiers about the importance of communication and following orders. It also instructs them in combat techniques and means of survival. Plus it shows them ways of navigating and dealing with what is often a hostile environment.