OUT OF THIS WORLD

Scientists are now able to make remote-controlled humans:

“By remotely stimulating a person’s vestibular system - the fluid-filled tubes in the inner ear that guide their sense of balance - with electrodes placed on the skin just below the ear, researchers at NTT’s research laboratories in Kanagawa have found a way to turn humans into oversized radio controlled vehicles.” From a NewScientist.com article .

NTT researchers think that this technique, known as galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), could be used for making computer games feel more realistic. A US patent already exists for using GVS as a virtual reality tool. (I expect that the military also has some interesting ideas for how to use this technique.)

Another news item this week tells of a 28-year-old man who died after 50 hours of on-line battle simulation games at a cybercafe in South Korea. He had recently quit his job to spend more time playing computer games.

As people try to escape their everyday lives through computer games and virtual reality, are they experiencing any more satisfaction? I doubt it.

Here are some words of wisdom from the great sage Narada Muni:

“No one can counteract the effects of fruitive activity simply by manufacturing a different activity devoid of Krishna consciousness. All such activity is due to our ignorance. When we have a troublesome dream, we cannot relieve it with a troublesome hallucination. One can counteract a dream only by awaking. Similarly, our material existence is due to our ignorance and illusion. Unless we awaken to Krishna consciousness, we cannot be relieved of such dreams. For the ultimate solution to all problems, we must awaken to Krishna consciousness.”

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.29.34