rwilliam@uncle-bens.rice.edu (William R. Russell) (02/22/90)
In article <16269@well.sf.ca.us>, 70117.2546@CompuServe.COM (Dunn-70117@cis.ohio-state.edu, 2546) writes: > > > What ever happened to Dr Lilly of "Day of the Dolphin" and " > Altered States" and isolation chamber fame. Instead of tapping into > the brain electrically which sounds a long way off and a bit risky, > why not a sensory deprivation chamber of a suitable size and volume ( > a heck of a lot of epsom salts). This would serve to open a direct > path to the subconscious. All outside stimulation would be cut off, > the brain would be ready for any kind of stimulation and you feed in > cyberspace. While using an isolation chamber for cyberspace would eliminate the problem of bumping into objects and other such "real" world intrusions, it wouldn't help provide feedback or otherwise increase the "cyberspace" experience. It would serve to block out background "noise" (or sensation). Besides, do isolation chambers actually open a path a to the subconscious? I seem to remember reading Dr. Feynman mentioning something about isolation chambers in one of his books, and he always thought that the concept was a bunch of New Age mumbo jumbo. Anyway, it would be nice to develop a virtual worlds environment that *didn't* require a 100 gallon tank of brine to work effectively. rwilliam
hlr@well.sf.ca.us (Howard Rheingold) (02/23/90)
In article <5147@brazos.Rice.edu> rwilliam@uncle-bens.rice.edu (William R. Russell) writes: >In article <16269@well.sf.ca.us>, 70117.2546@CompuServe.COM >(Dunn-70117@cis.ohio-state.edu, 2546) writes: >> What ever happened to Dr Lilly of "Day of the Dolphin" and " >> Altered States" and isolation chamber fame. Instead of tapping into John Lilly will be the featured speader at the next conference of the International REST Investigator's Society, in Washington D.C. on March 22 and 23. The Society is a group of academic researchers involved in various subjects that make use of Restricted Environmental Stimulation (the name has been changed to avoid the various bizarre myths attached to the inaccurate label "sensory deprivation" (e.g. "Altered States", which was fun, but only accurate if you believe Dr. Frankenstein is alive and well)). REST research areas include hormone levels, psychotherapy, amelioration of chronic disease, treatment of addictions, cognitive theory, isolated environments and others (don't have my references handy). >> path to the subconscious. All outside stimulation would be cut off, Not cut off - just decreased below the normal roar. >intrusions, it wouldn't help provide feedback or otherwise >increase the "cyberspace" experience. It would serve to block out I would expect it to increase the experience mostly for the kinesthetic sense, since that nearly disappears when floating (i.e., you can make yourself "tilt" in any direction by thinking about it). Other senses can be affected without floating (see below). >Besides, do isolation chambers actually open a path a to the >subconscious? I seem to remember reading Dr. Feynman mentioning "Open a path" is too strong - I like "lower the barriers between various parts of the mind". When you don't have to spend all your time processing outside information, the inside information becomes more available. The best analogy might be astronomy - wait until the sun (sensory stimuli) goes down so that you can study the stars (internal stimuli). I use my flotation tank for: problem solving, naps, recovery from heavy exercise and visualization. >Anyway, it would be nice to develop a virtual worlds environment >that *didn't* require a 100 gallon tank of brine to work >effectively. I agree, and it is very easy: cover ears, eyes and hands and lie down in a dim, quit room and you get most of the same REST effects. I would expect there to be some added effects when a flotation environment is used for cyberspace, but I doubt that they will be of overwhelming importance. Don't worry, somebody will do the research and tell us if it's really worth it. -- Eric Read ` | ' harvard!cfisun!eric (617) 899-6500 Price Waterhouse / CFI --*-- Look! Skeletons 51 Sawyer Rd. ' | ` In their best holiday clothes, Waltham, MA 02154 viewing flowers. (Onitsura)