Let's try and get 1,000,000 replies to this post

[Moon Child]

Double post and random thought. Would people still go to the beach when 3D and 4D become mainstream and everyone will be able to have the beach in their home?

I still would. 3D is overrated anyway.

 

[Perun]

What Ariana is suggesting is a fully-developed holodeck, as in Star Trek. Imagine this technology to exist and be available.

 

[Ariana]

Depends: Is this technology going to use social media to create the illusion that you're at the beach with other people? I.e. you're using a social media program to go to a wholly virtual 4D beach and have virtual illusions of real people using the same program produced there?

I have no idea. I don't know how far this thing can be taken.

Yep, that's the idea, Per.

 

[Perun]

I think that if the technology to create a fully-synthetic, experiencable beach exists, implementing a social application into it would be child's play.

I would love to see that happen. I could have the gorgeous, real-world beaches all for myself, then. Plus, it would probably result in massive environmental regeneration.

 

[Ariana]

Is this what's called augmented reality?
There certainly are many advantages to this. I can think of a few shortcomings too, but I must admit they are all pretty much in the sentimental department.

Edit: Actually, I have no doubt that this thing will happen. I was more interested in whether it will eventually replace the real experience.

 

[Perun]

I personally prefer reality in everything. I'm not the kind of guy who does a holiday to lie on the beach, but to do exploration. But think of all the casual travelers who make up the bulk of mass-tourism. They fly from Germany to Spain once a year for 90 Euros, bring their own sausage tins and beers only to have sun and beach. They would be up for that sort of technology, I think. I would support that greatly, especially because it's that sort of mass tourism that is what's doing the real ecological damage. The cheap flights alone have blown so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that all measures to save energy in a country like Germany are negligible by comparison.

 

[mckindog]

Offering the masses all the experience, none of the risk - the creators would be the most powerful people on the planet.

 

[Perun]

We have all the ideas: Let's build this thing.

 

[Wästed The Great]

That would be cool. But you'd find a whole generation of people that never leave their house. Work at home 'virtually' in the office.

I think there was a scifi show that showed that. People than never left their homes...

In other news, whenever I hear Fates Warning on my shuffle, I say "wait, who is that, that's really good!" .. then I look and say "dur, i should listen to that more."

 

[bearfan]

It would quickly put prostitution and hookup spots out of business.

 

[mckindog]

We have all the ideas: Let's build this thing.

I've got some paint and some nails.
And I know a bunch of really smart people on the Internet.

 

[Ariana]

I don't really believe that technology would change the world beyond recognition. Maybe it would eventually but not over the next century. There are people who barely leave their homes today but there will always be people who'd rather pack their bags and go somewhere. I believe that traveling itself is a large part of the experience, probably just as much as being at your destination already. So it depends on the person - if you're prone to staying at home mostly, you'd grab the opportunity that would make your life even easier. But for the rest, life wouldn't be very different, unless going outside poses a risk to your health or something.

 

[mtmccox]

I have conquered 2112 and Moving Pictures, both like very much. What should be my next Rush album?

 

[Vap]

Permanent Waves.

 

[mckindog]

Permanent Waves.

What Vap said.

 

[mtmccox]

Roger.

 

[Moon Child]

What Ariana is suggesting is a fully-developed holodeck, as in Star Trek. Imagine this technology to exist and be available.

I'm late on this but I know what she meant. 3D is still overrated and I like the idea of actually getting out of my house to go places. I guess I'm just a bit old fashioned.

 

[Forostar]

I have conquered 2112 and Moving Pictures, both like very much. What should be my next Rush album?

No clue, these are very different albums.

 

[____no5]

Fly by Night. But don't rush..

 

[Cornfed Hick]

I have conquered 2112 and Moving Pictures, both like very much. What should be my next Rush album?

Vap and mckindog are correct: Permanent Waves. Though Foro has a point: the albums are pretty different, and if you prefer the superlong prog epics like "2112" to the shorter, more accessible songs on side one of Moving Pictures, then you might prefer Hemispheres or A Farewell to Kings, as those albums contain longer suites. (Indeed, if memory serves, the "Cygnus" suite carries over between the two albums.) Still, my own view is that Permanent Waves is a far better album, my second favorite Rush album of all (Moving Pictures is #1).