A leading philosopher takes a mind-bending journey through virtual worlds, illuminating the nature of reality and our place within it. Virtual reality is genuine reality; that’s the central thesis of Reality+. In a highly original work of “technophilosophy,” David J. Chalmers gives a compelling analysis of our technological future. He argues that virtual worlds are not second-class worlds, and that we can live a meaningful life in virtual reality. We may even be in a virtual world already. Along the way, Chalmers conducts a grand tour of big ideas in philosophy and science. He uses virtual reality technology to offer a new perspective on long-established philosophical questions. How do we know that there’s an external world? Is there a god? What is the nature of reality? What’s the relation between mind and body? How can we lead a good life? All of these questions are illuminated or transformed by Chalmers’ mind-bending analysis. Studded with illustrations that bring philosophical issues to life, Reality+ is a major statement that will shape discussion of philosophy, science, and technology for years to come.

As contemporary scholars, journalists, and commentators have indicated, mobile digital devices promote a constant shift of attention between the world around us and the stimulations afforded by screen-based interfaces. Investigating these uniquely contemporary hybrid interactions, Melanie Chan posits that while digital technologies are part of a long and historic trajectory, they nonetheless may instigate new forms of corporeal practices and experiences. How might continuous engagement with mobile devices and associated software impact our perception of sensory embodied experience? Drawing upon existing scholarship around mobile media and new media, Digital Reality explores digital technologies as phenomena (observable items such as such as smart-phones, handsets, consoles, head-mounted displays and goggles) in the light of theories of reality and corporeality. In so doing, the book highlights the qualitative dimensions of our sense of aliveness, movement, and interaction within a range of environments (virtual, real, or hybrid). Ultimately, the book illuminates how our sense of shared, objective reality changes due to hybrid forms of reality.

At every juncture during the evolution of digital technology, computer architects intuitively or consciously incorporated truths about human functioning into their designs. So although computers operate digitally, they are intended to act like human beings. Software, in particular, is specifically written to accomplish humanlike tasks and to be understood in human terms. Yet unlike human life, computer operations can be analyzed in detail because we build machines that execute them and know the decisions that went into their construction. Digital Reality: Knowledge as Set Construction is the final report of a thirty-year study of how computers are designed. Author and philosopher George Towner shares his research and uncovers these truths hidden in digital architectures, assembling them into a new explanation of human knowledge. In addition, he includes an analysis of computing architectures that provides insights into some of the great questions of traditional philosophy, because much of digital technology is now dedicated to creating new realities. A new theory based on emerging digital realities can offer another way of understanding human knowledgehow it functions, how it is related to what it knows, and what its natural limitations may be. Unlike many theories, digital reality theory is not expressed in laws and formulas; it just explains how human knowledge works.

With the advent of consumer-market Virtual Reality (VR) technology, the next revolution in visual entertainment is already on the horizon: real VR will enable us to experience live-action movies, sports broadcasts, concert videos, etc. in true visual (and aural) immersion. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the algorithms and methods that make it possible to immerse into real-world recordings. It brings together the expertise of internationally renowned experts from academia and industry who present the state of the art in this fascinating, interdisciplinary new research field. Written by and for scientists, engineers, and practitioners, this book is the definitive reference for anyone interested in finding out about how to import the real world into head-mounted displays.

The Complete Guide to Virtual Reality in Architecture andDesign The first in-depth book on virtual reality (VR) aimed specificallyat architecture and design professionals, Designing Digital Spacesteers you skillfully through the learning curve of this excitingnew technology. Beginning with a historical overview of theevolution of architectural representations, this unique resourceexplains what VR is, how it is being applied today, and how itpromises to revolutionize not only the design process, but the formand function of the built environment itself. Vividly illustratinghow VR fits alongside traditional methods of architecturalrepresentation, this comprehensive guide prepares you to makeoptimum practical use of this powerful interactive tool, andembrace the new role of the architect in a virtually designedworld. Offers in-depth coverage of the virtual universe--datarepresentation and information management, static and dynamicworlds, tracking and visual display systems, control devices, andmore. Examines a wide range of current VR architectural applications,from walkthroughs, simulations, and evaluations to reconstructionsand networked environments Includes insightful essays by leading VR developers covering someof today's most innovative projects Integrates VR into the historical framework of architecturaldevelopment, with detailed sections on the past, present, andfuture Features a dazzling array of virtual world images and sequentialdisplays Explores the potential impact of digital architecture on the builtenvironment of the future

That's the promise, and peril, of the third digital revolution, where anyone will be able to make (almost) anything Two digital revolutions -- computing and communication -- have radically transformed our economy and lives. A third digital revolution is here: fabrication. Today's 3D printers are only the start of a trend, accelerating exponentially, to turn data into objects: Neil Gershenfeld and his collaborators ultimately aim to create a universal replicator straight out of Star Trek. While digital fabrication promises us self-sufficient cities and the ability to make (almost) anything, it could also lead to massive inequality. The first two digital revolutions caught most of the world flat-footed, thanks to Designing Reality that won't be true this time.

How augmented reality and virtual reality are taking their places in contemporary media culture alongside film and television. T This book positions augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) firmly in contemporary media culture. The authors view AR and VR not as the latest hyped technologies but as media—the latest in a series of what they term “reality media,” taking their places alongside film and television. Reality media inserts a layer of media between us and our perception of the world; AR and VR do not replace reality but refashion a reality for us. Each reality medium mediates and remediates; each offers a new representation that we implicitly compare to our experience of the world in itself but also through other media. The authors show that as forms of reality media emerge, they not only chart a future path for media culture, but also redefine media past. With AR and VR in mind, then, we can recognize their precursors in eighteenth-century panoramas and the Broadway lights of the 1930s. A digital version of Reality Media, available through the book’s website, invites readers to visit a series of virtual rooms featuring interactivity, 3-D models, videos, images, and texts that explore the themes of the book.