[Original Image © Synthitect]
HYBRID REALITY
As we venture deeper into the realm of virtual reality and
augmented reality we begin to shift our focus, developing new systems for digital avenues and paying less attention to our original physical reality. Many
theories exist that position our consciousness either as the subject of a
higher power (Gods, Simulation Hypothesis, etc…), as the controller designing
our own and other’s destiny (AI, augmented reality, etc…), or as a combination
of both (Chaos Theory, Simple rules generating complex results). Hybrid Reality
(Or multi-reality) is a proposal to merge philosophies of physical particle
driven reality with digitally derived realities. We tend to assign our original
physical reality as the generator for its digital counterpart; needless to
say, our digital explorations have offered enough intrigue to propel us further
along its path. Digital technologies are becoming less a counterpart, and more
the generator of future lifestyles. If we continue along this trajectory, it is
likely that our digital endeavors will be the primary state of our existence
while our physical state is left to operate simply as a vessel. There may come
a time when conscious existence transitions completely into a digital state,
and mankind as a physical entity discontinues reproduction, becoming extinct.
If Hybrid Reality can successfully merge, and, more
importantly, balance our multiple forms of existence, we will have better control
in how our future develops. For instance:
Traveling Between Realities
So often, we find ourselves
mindlessly engaging with our devices, tip-toeing in and out of applications,
making brief appearances on multiple social sites, gathering data and
information from the internet, and pulling these experiences back to our
physical reality. Information is pouring across these boundaries with no
filter, no quantification, no calibration. In effect, we end up with things
like fake news; Perhaps the most pathetic social folly since accusations of
witchcraft. True hybrid systems utilize measured interactions, that self-monitor,
self-balance, and even systematically self-govern interactions within their
construct. Between physical and digital realities, we don't have enough of this. We’ve left the responsibility of "self-leveling" to human discretion, effected
not only by digital mis-users, but non-users with unqualified opinions as well.
We are failing to prevent detrimental situations before they occur.
Proposal:
Define a system that captures and quantifies information traveling in both
directions, to and from physical and digital environments. This can be
considered a digital environmental design effort, to keep clean the digital
environment we interact with and prevent faulty data and information from
crossing back into our physical reality.
Make users accountable for the information they share. This does not eliminate freedom of speech, but does assign the information shared by a user to
the user’s profile and holds them accountable for any negligent data they may impose on a digital environment. This can be monitored and controlled through
the applications that users access sites from, as well as through advanced Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI's) that monitor data entering your brain from the internet. A system will be put in place
that discredits particular users that pollute the digital environment. The
digital environment offers us infinite possibilities; but, this does not mean we
should entertain them all. We get to decide how we proceed: in a
civilized manner, or towards the demise of our existence.