Desires and doubts aside, the most valuable use of this virtual reality was for training purposes. An attack on the Enterprise or a Borg invasion would be better dealt with if realistic virtual training was given. The Holodeck may be far too advanced for today's technology, but the concept of it and VR are very much in practice. Change Starfleet to the U.S. Army and the Borg to Iraq, and we can look at how Star Trek's Holodeck is influencing modern day military VR training.
It's common knowledge that Virtual Reality machines do exist - Pilots and Army drivers go through intense VR training in realistic simulations. These machines offer accurate visuals and obstacles to test them in all sorts of situations and environments preparing them for the real thing. Making a mistake in VR is forgiveable, you simply start all over again until perfected; doing it in real life is where it counts.
The technological advances of VR and its use in the U.S. Army have developed even further in recent years, focusing on vehicle terrain mobility, safety and environmental protection as well as the men driving them. The Barco Virtual Reality system is a series of imaging projector screens, which display detailed and accurate 3D environments. The VR system was designed to "interact with stereoscopic 3D models" with its use of 3D goggles, touch screens and Wii-Style remote controls. The U.S. Army Tank research and development centre use this system to help evaluate situations and give data on vehicle terrain performance. Moving within a VR machine is limited to screen image movement only and people moving through a virtual world will currently result in an unfortunate case of wall bumping.
The idea of the holodeck being a suitable medicine for nostalgia is close to VR research performed by the University of Emory in America. Their research intends to help soldiers to recover from the post-traumatic stress of fighting in Iraq by making them relive the experience through Virtual Reality. The helmet depicts a battle scene, with noises of gun fire and explosion. To make it more authentic, burning odours are released and they feel bumps and shakes. One Iraqi veteran says "It puts you back there, for sure. The stuff doesn't look totally real, but it all feels real. It's scary." VR therapy is becoming common in America, as one third of soldiers suffer from post-traumatic stress. The crew of the Starship Enterprise used this form of virtual reality therapy, and no doubt it will eventually be used to cure other forms of phobias.
It is clear that Virtual Reality is moving forward, and it's certainly an important tool in the research of major institutions. Perhaps Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was too advanced for his time, or maybe he just had an over-active imagination. What we do know is that his imagination has inspired the technology of tomorrow and perhaps it will still be going strong long after we have gone. The essence of the Holodeck is certainly growing stronger, but admittedly we're a long way off having virtual pints on Mars in the comfort of our own holodeck!
Comments
