Immersion
What elements of different kinds of texts (music, books, computer games etc.) contribute to your sense of immersion?
Immersion is expressed endlessly, in mutable avenues of experience throughout life. Any of the senses, or mind, can facilitate immersion, be it real or virtual. The smell of a rose may immerse me for ten seconds, a CD for forty minutes, a sunset for an afternoon, home ownership half a life, and misidentification of this body as the real me for as long as a heart beats.
Small children think there are real people inside the radio or television set. Images and sounds are usually absorbed whilst sitting on a couch. Giraffes, eagles, and other creatures don't appreciate TV because the flicker rate of transmitted images doesn't correspond with their own visual faculty. A child is easily lulled into a false sense of reality. An adult requires more sophisticated means, although the basic principle is the same. I recall, as a six year old, a despondent classmate, troubled by anger and doubt regarding the possible fictitious nature of the tooth fairy. In one sense adults are no different, although we create our own real life avatar that may enable us to garner the most favorable results from any given situation.
I agree with Murray in disputing, "the audiences experiences of books is only second hand." Such a concept shows an astounding dearth of knowledge regarding the human mind and senses as facilitators of reciprocation. A huge amount of our learning, pleasure, and identity is accumulated by hearing (and in extended form by reading) rather than by seeing, touching, or doing.
With any form of mediated experience there is a target audience. In the case of computer simulated games that audience is generally teenage boys. Girls and older people make up the numbers, but they are the minority. Interests change with age; it is a natural consequence and one that is also influenced by societal norms. A young man will feel at home in a nightclub, but at 65 years of age his mere presence may deem him sleazy and pathetic rather than hip or cool. I saw handouts for a coloring competition the other day, open to anyone six years and over. By rights I could enter, but it is not really my thing anymore. Virtual reality offers us the facility to take on many identities, but it could be argued that the same is already happening in the 'real' world. To some people George Bush was Mr. President. To others he is dad, and to his wife he may be snuggles. If he had grandchildren he would probably give them pony rides around the oval office.
Computer games can enhance cognitive skills and are a useful introduction to employment that may involve spatial vision such as pilot or air traffic controller. As far as enhancing genuine social skills, I don't see it happening. The many cyber cafes I have had the misfortune to venture into are generally frequented by loud, foul mouthed teenagers, playing war games, wagging school, and hiding from parents and police. Still, illusion is an attractive escape from reality.
I have a friend in North Queensland who spent $3000 on phone sex with a lady in Melbourne. They enjoyed it so much she packed her bags into her station wagon and drove the 4000 klms to move in with him. The virtual phone sex relationship lasted two months, the real relationship two weeks, and she was last seen heading back down the highway toward Melbourne.
Regardless of the medium of entertainment or escapism, my personal sense of immersion is enhanced by: empathy; identification with character or situation; flaws that need overcoming; goals aspired for, or quest in progress. Visualization is also important, not only in film, but also in music and literature. And I am also a sucker for wit, wisdom, and philosophy. It is also interesting to note the original concept of the word avatar: An incarnation of Godhead descended into the mortal realm. It is an apt enactment in virtual reality, where game players incarnate in a new identity. When all is said and done my favorite computer game remains the original Atari 'Pong'. Anyone for tennis?
Immersion is expressed endlessly, in mutable avenues of experience throughout life. Any of the senses, or mind, can facilitate immersion, be it real or virtual. The smell of a rose may immerse me for ten seconds, a CD for forty minutes, a sunset for an afternoon, home ownership half a life, and misidentification of this body as the real me for as long as a heart beats.
Small children think there are real people inside the radio or television set. Images and sounds are usually absorbed whilst sitting on a couch. Giraffes, eagles, and other creatures don't appreciate TV because the flicker rate of transmitted images doesn't correspond with their own visual faculty. A child is easily lulled into a false sense of reality. An adult requires more sophisticated means, although the basic principle is the same. I recall, as a six year old, a despondent classmate, troubled by anger and doubt regarding the possible fictitious nature of the tooth fairy. In one sense adults are no different, although we create our own real life avatar that may enable us to garner the most favorable results from any given situation.
I agree with Murray in disputing, "the audiences experiences of books is only second hand." Such a concept shows an astounding dearth of knowledge regarding the human mind and senses as facilitators of reciprocation. A huge amount of our learning, pleasure, and identity is accumulated by hearing (and in extended form by reading) rather than by seeing, touching, or doing.
With any form of mediated experience there is a target audience. In the case of computer simulated games that audience is generally teenage boys. Girls and older people make up the numbers, but they are the minority. Interests change with age; it is a natural consequence and one that is also influenced by societal norms. A young man will feel at home in a nightclub, but at 65 years of age his mere presence may deem him sleazy and pathetic rather than hip or cool. I saw handouts for a coloring competition the other day, open to anyone six years and over. By rights I could enter, but it is not really my thing anymore. Virtual reality offers us the facility to take on many identities, but it could be argued that the same is already happening in the 'real' world. To some people George Bush was Mr. President. To others he is dad, and to his wife he may be snuggles. If he had grandchildren he would probably give them pony rides around the oval office.
Computer games can enhance cognitive skills and are a useful introduction to employment that may involve spatial vision such as pilot or air traffic controller. As far as enhancing genuine social skills, I don't see it happening. The many cyber cafes I have had the misfortune to venture into are generally frequented by loud, foul mouthed teenagers, playing war games, wagging school, and hiding from parents and police. Still, illusion is an attractive escape from reality.
I have a friend in North Queensland who spent $3000 on phone sex with a lady in Melbourne. They enjoyed it so much she packed her bags into her station wagon and drove the 4000 klms to move in with him. The virtual phone sex relationship lasted two months, the real relationship two weeks, and she was last seen heading back down the highway toward Melbourne.
Regardless of the medium of entertainment or escapism, my personal sense of immersion is enhanced by: empathy; identification with character or situation; flaws that need overcoming; goals aspired for, or quest in progress. Visualization is also important, not only in film, but also in music and literature. And I am also a sucker for wit, wisdom, and philosophy. It is also interesting to note the original concept of the word avatar: An incarnation of Godhead descended into the mortal realm. It is an apt enactment in virtual reality, where game players incarnate in a new identity. When all is said and done my favorite computer game remains the original Atari 'Pong'. Anyone for tennis?
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