X-Message-Number: 11721
From: 
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 12:30:00 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Wheels exist.  Reinvention not necessary.

In Message #11710 Thomas Donaldson wrote to Robert Crevier:
>
>One quite critical issue which your little story slides over is that of
>just how well we will ever be able to simulate a world. I am doubting that
>our simulations will do very well; sure, I believe in using them for
>various kinds of training, etc --- but the idea of living in a simulation,
>given the weakness of such simulations compared to the real world, seems
>quite ridiculous.
>
Your attention, please.

We ALREADY simulate worlds which are indistinguishable from this one.

The usually poorer simulations are commonly called "dreams".  Most people 
assume this is as good as it gets and dismiss dreams as "not real enough".

The indistinguishable versions are called "lucid dreams".  These CANNOT be 
distinguished from the experience you are having as you read these words.
In fact, to recognize that one is dreaming is often quite difficult as the 
experience is indistinguishable from the waking state in quality, complexity 
and content.

There is no need to reinvent the wheel nor debate whether or not wheels will 
ever be buildable.  The ONLY question is will THIS wheel be better ACCESSED 
FOR USE ON DEMAND in the future.

Again, the lucid dream is not speculation but demonstrated fact.  If you 
wish to review the literature, no problem.  If you wish to directly upgrade 
your experience of dreaming to personally verify these facts, the door is 
always open.

We already have the wheel.  Now we simply need to get better axles.

If you prefer, we could call it BVR for Biological Virtual Reality to 
distinguish it from computer-generated versions.

The fact remains BVR already exists.  

This is not debatable.

Am I being clear?

-George Smith
 CI member

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