Erivelton Nepomuceno
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have played an important role in our society. AR aims to improve our perception of reality, while VR aims to create a new or artificial reality. There is no doubt that the results achieved in these two areas are remarkable. It is, however, quite surprising that our understanding of reality is not yet complete. In fact, a better understanding of reality will be essential for future developments in these areas.
Some argue that we are improving our relationship with reality. The global phenomenon of fake news suggests that we are heading in a different direction. In the era of widespread information availability, the spread of fake news has become an urgent problem. The spread of false information across various social media platforms has undermined trust in mainstream news sources. This leaves us with the question of whom we should trust. Although institutions and experts have traditionally been reliable sources of information, their credibility has also come under doubt. As a result, people look to their personal relationships as sources of truth. The distinction between fact and fiction is not so clear nowadays, and the importance of developing and maintaining personal, trusting relationships with those we know and trust cannot be exaggerated. These relationships serve as criteria in a sea of misrepresentation, fixing us in a shared reality that we can trust and in which we can move forward together.
Face-to-face communication isn’t the only way to build trust. Engagement and trust can be developed in the virtual world. However, our human minds can miss some important signs of reality that could help us distinguish truth from lies. When we communicate in person, we pick up on slight nonverbal hints, like body language and expressions. These characteristics can indicate a person’s sincerity and authenticity. For example, a person smiling can calm us down, but someone avoiding eye contact can make us suspicious. In virtual interactions, these cues are often missing or altered, making it difficult to detect a person’s intentions. Furthermore, physical absence can help people hide their true identity or intentions, leading to situations where trust can be lost. For example, in online dating, a person may present themselves as something completely different from who they really are, which can lead to potential disappointment or even harm. While virtual relationships can be meaningful and trusting, they require us to be more vigilant.
Reason is an important tool that helps us establish a strong relationship with reality. However, reducing reason to what is demonstrable is a common mistake. Although a mathematical theorem can be explained step by step and widely accepted as correct, a child’s love for his mother is reasonable and real, even if it is realized through the accumulation of experiences that are difficult to explain and demonstrate. Likewise, a portrait created by the genius of an artist can attract the attention of many people and be recognized as beauty. As engineers, it’s important to build relationships that help us discern what is true and good. The development and use of VR and AR technologies rely heavily on this capability.
Erivelton Nepomuceno (erivelton.nepomuceno@mu.ie) is with Maynooth University, Maynooth W23 F2H6, Ireland, and is the student editor of IEEE Potentials.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPOT.2023.3318092
