By hacking together a pair of VR headsets, a group of artists and DIY neuroscientists from BeAnotherLab discovered that they could create empathy between two strangers. Men could empathize with women. The old could understand the young. White people could hold up their hands and see black skin. Not only was VR slick, shiny new technology, but it had a wonderful potential for helping people learn compassion. VR was hailed as a savior, and the praise was piled on.
However, same team came away with a darker opinion: it would be just as easy for VR to inflict pain on someone. According to them, VR has the potential to induce severe pain or suffering, whether physically or mentally, if it is applied with a tortuous intentionality. They went on to say that most certainly, the military will shortly be experimenting with VR as a form of torture if they have not already begun.
https://versions.killscreen.com/we-should-be-talking-about-torture-in-vr/
What do you think? Would it be more "humane" way to torture someone or equally bad/worse?
However, same team came away with a darker opinion: it would be just as easy for VR to inflict pain on someone. According to them, VR has the potential to induce severe pain or suffering, whether physically or mentally, if it is applied with a tortuous intentionality. They went on to say that most certainly, the military will shortly be experimenting with VR as a form of torture if they have not already begun.
https://versions.killscreen.com/we-should-be-talking-about-torture-in-vr/
What do you think? Would it be more "humane" way to torture someone or equally bad/worse?