1 Embodied Spirits HNRS 299, Spring 2008 Plenary Session 1 Discussion of "The Matrix"
2 Seminar on Human Nature: Embodied Spirits Each of us approaches the tension between our physical selves and our spirits. Section 1: "History of the Wonderful," Prof. Jonathan Mulrooney Section 2: "Perception, Illusion and Virtual Reality," Prof. Constance Royden Section 3: "Phantom Spain," Prof. Daniel Frost
3 Plenary Plans Film Screenings We will have 3 required film screenings: Tuesday, Jan 15 Tuesday, Feb 26 Tuesday, Apr 22 Plenary sessions Each screening will be followed with a plenary session on the the next day. We will discuss the film and how it relates to each of our topics.
The Matrix How does "The Matrix" relate to perception, illusion and VR?
5 Perception What we see depends on the input our sensory systems receive. Before taking the pill: The "real world" is actually a virtual reality created by machines.
6 The Real "Real world" After taking the pill, Neo learns to use his real senses to discern the real real world.
7 Bypassing the Senses? The virtual world of the matrix is created by bypassing the senses (e.g. eyes) and feeding electrical input directly to the nervous system. Is this plausible? We will examine human visual perception, so we can gain insight into the complexity of this problem.
8 There is no spoon In the matrix, illusions are generated by using one's mind to alter the programs that generate the scene. We will examine visual illusions that are "mistakes" made by our brain. We will see what these tell us about how our brain works.
9 Height in the Visual Field In normal images, things that are farther away often have images that are higher in the visual field. The visual system uses this height in the visual field as a cue to distance. We then adjust our interpretation of the size of the object based on this distance.
10 A small man When we remove the height cue, the second man looks small indeed!
11 Virtual Reality The virtual reality of the matrix is detailed and realistic. In it, people Perceive the virtual world with all their senses Interact with objects and other people Can change the laws of nature by thinking. We will examine current technology as it relates to each of these. Perception: Computer graphics, headsets Interaction: Data gloves, online multiplayer games and VR sites, AI Bending spoons: Recent research allows monkeys with electronic brain implants to move a cursor on a screen by thinking (Taylor et al., Science, 2002)
12 Questions for Discussion 1.If the VR world of the matrix were possible, how would you know you were living in a VR world? 2.If you can't tell, does it matter? (Corollary: Which pill would you take?) 3.If you know you are in a virtual world, is it OK to alter how you deal with others? 4.How many layers of VR (broadly defined) are there in the movie, "The Matrix"?