Press "Enter" to skip to content

Creating Human Connections in Virtual Reality | Paul Coccovillo | TEDxCSUS


so what if I was to tell you that as

so what if I was to tell you that as humans we disregard most of the

humans we disregard most of the

humans we disregard most of the information that’s thrown out of our

information that’s thrown out of our

information that’s thrown out of our brains every single day it’s not that

brains every single day it’s not that

brains every single day it’s not that shocking but let me go one step further

shocking but let me go one step further

shocking but let me go one step further what would you think if I told you that

what would you think if I told you that

what would you think if I told you that one of the big reasons for that is that

one of the big reasons for that is that

one of the big reasons for that is that that information coming at us on a

that information coming at us on a

that information coming at us on a day-to-day basis is being fed to us in a

day-to-day basis is being fed to us in a

day-to-day basis is being fed to us in a way that our brains are pre conditioned

way that our brains are pre conditioned

way that our brains are pre conditioned to ignore and to disregard it and what

to ignore and to disregard it and what

to ignore and to disregard it and what if I was to go one step further than

if I was to go one step further than

if I was to go one step further than that and say if we corrected for that we

that and say if we corrected for that we

that and say if we corrected for that we could open up a whole new world of

could open up a whole new world of

could open up a whole new world of experiences every day the people that

experiences every day the people that

experiences every day the people that otherwise would simply just ignore them

otherwise would simply just ignore them

otherwise would simply just ignore them and let them go unexperienced now I know

and let them go unexperienced now I know

and let them go unexperienced now I know some people are thinking about that and

some people are thinking about that and

some people are thinking about that and saying no way there’s no way I can be

saying no way there’s no way I can be

saying no way there’s no way I can be that tuned out in the world no way well

that tuned out in the world no way well

that tuned out in the world no way well let’s do a quick exercise to illustrate

let’s do a quick exercise to illustrate

let’s do a quick exercise to illustrate this point take a look at the picture

this point take a look at the picture

this point take a look at the picture behind me how is this picture make you

behind me how is this picture make you

behind me how is this picture make you feel what does this picture make you

feel what does this picture make you

feel what does this picture make you feel it’s a difficult question to answer

feel it’s a difficult question to answer

feel it’s a difficult question to answer you don’t have much in the way of

you don’t have much in the way of

you don’t have much in the way of context around this photo you don’t know

context around this photo you don’t know

context around this photo you don’t know who these people are you may not know

who these people are you may not know

who these people are you may not know where this photo was taken or when the

where this photo was taken or when the

where this photo was taken or when the circumstances around it and because of

circumstances around it and because of

circumstances around it and because of that it’s very difficult to make any

that it’s very difficult to make any

that it’s very difficult to make any type of meaningful connection with the

type of meaningful connection with the

type of meaningful connection with the people here this is simply just a

people here this is simply just a

people here this is simply just a two-dimensional photo on a

two-dimensional photo on a

two-dimensional photo on a two-dimensional screen but if you think

two-dimensional screen but if you think

two-dimensional screen but if you think about it I mean really think about it

about it I mean really think about it

about it I mean really think about it this is how we get most of our

this is how we get most of our

this is how we get most of our information in the world today if you’re

information in the world today if you’re

information in the world today if you’re like me probably carrying around a cell

like me probably carrying around a cell

like me probably carrying around a cell phone in your pocket or use your

phone in your pocket or use your

phone in your pocket or use your computer to browse the internet or you

computer to browse the internet or you

computer to browse the internet or you watch television like all of us do these

watch television like all of us do these

watch television like all of us do these two-dimensional screens are our gateway

two-dimensional screens are our gateway

two-dimensional screens are our gateway to the world they’re all around us

to the world they’re all around us

to the world they’re all around us they’re how we connect today this is

they’re how we connect today this is

they’re how we connect today this is challenging for us as humans on a very

challenging for us as humans on a very

challenging for us as humans on a very basic level

basic level

basic level and what do I mean by that well

and what do I mean by that well

and what do I mean by that well two-dimensional screens by definition

two-dimensional screens by definition

two-dimensional screens by definition I’m going to be very limiting and I’m

I’m going to be very limiting and I’m

I’m going to be very limiting and I’m gonna bet a lot of people in this room

gonna bet a lot of people in this room

gonna bet a lot of people in this room have experienced this for themselves but

have experienced this for themselves but

have experienced this for themselves but you may have not even noticed it for

you may have not even noticed it for

you may have not even noticed it for example maybe you used a video

example maybe you used a video

example maybe you used a video conference program like Skype or

conference program like Skype or

conference program like Skype or FaceTime when you couldn’t be with

FaceTime when you couldn’t be with

FaceTime when you couldn’t be with family maybe you were separated by

family maybe you were separated by

family maybe you were separated by distance or you couldn’t make it to a

distance or you couldn’t make it to a

distance or you couldn’t make it to a birthday party you may have caught

birthday party you may have caught

birthday party you may have caught yourself saying something like I wish I

yourself saying something like I wish I

yourself saying something like I wish I could be there or I wish you were here

could be there or I wish you were here

could be there or I wish you were here with me in a way that’s us admitting

with me in a way that’s us admitting

with me in a way that’s us admitting that we cannot connect and engage with

that we cannot connect and engage with

that we cannot connect and engage with the content on the other side of that

the content on the other side of that

the content on the other side of that screen in the way we need to that screen

screen in the way we need to that screen

screen in the way we need to that screen is separating us from that emotional

is separating us from that emotional

is separating us from that emotional connection that we need to feel complete

connection that we need to feel complete

connection that we need to feel complete as humans today we have the Internet in

as humans today we have the Internet in

as humans today we have the Internet in the media speeding information to us

the media speeding information to us

the media speeding information to us faster than ever before but our ability

faster than ever before but our ability

faster than ever before but our ability to experience that content in the way it

to experience that content in the way it

to experience that content in the way it was intended by the producer the creator

was intended by the producer the creator

was intended by the producer the creator of that content is limited this is where

of that content is limited this is where

of that content is limited this is where virtual reality has the potential to

virtual reality has the potential to

virtual reality has the potential to help us make a significant step forward

help us make a significant step forward

help us make a significant step forward in connecting with each other in

in connecting with each other in

in connecting with each other in connecting with different content

connecting with different content

connecting with different content different people all around the world

different people all around the world

different people all around the world how’s it going to do that well let me

how’s it going to do that well let me

how’s it going to do that well let me explain it to you this way first what

explain it to you this way first what

explain it to you this way first what it’s going to do is virtual reality is

it’s going to do is virtual reality is

it’s going to do is virtual reality is going to add a third dimension now

going to add a third dimension now

going to add a third dimension now that’s one of several things that has to

that’s one of several things that has to

that’s one of several things that has to happen to bridge the difference between

happen to bridge the difference between

happen to bridge the difference between a two-dimensional screen and a

a two-dimensional screen and a

a two-dimensional screen and a real-world experience but it’s a big

real-world experience but it’s a big

real-world experience but it’s a big step forward why is that think about a

step forward why is that think about a

step forward why is that think about a memory a powerful one something that has

memory a powerful one something that has

memory a powerful one something that has significance to you you got it

if you start to boil down that memory

if you start to boil down that memory now you’re gonna start to get pieces of

now you’re gonna start to get pieces of

now you’re gonna start to get pieces of context around it you remember what the

context around it you remember what the

context around it you remember what the weather was like that day maybe it was

weather was like that day maybe it was

weather was like that day maybe it was raining maybe it was sunny you remember

raining maybe it was sunny you remember

raining maybe it was sunny you remember who the people were that were around you

who the people were that were around you

who the people were that were around you you remember the experiences you may

you remember the experiences you may

you remember the experiences you may even remember some very finite details

even remember some very finite details

even remember some very finite details such as what was the color of the walls

such as what was the color of the walls

such as what was the color of the walls or the floors the ceilings things that

or the floors the ceilings things that

or the floors the ceilings things that are around you most importantly you’re

are around you most importantly you’re

are around you most importantly you’re gonna remember how you felt you will

gonna remember how you felt you will

gonna remember how you felt you will never forget how you felt all of these

never forget how you felt all of these

never forget how you felt all of these aspects of context tied together to give

aspects of context tied together to give

aspects of context tied together to give that memory power significance we as

that memory power significance we as

that memory power significance we as humans do not focus on that single data

humans do not focus on that single data

humans do not focus on that single data point at the middle we think about it

point at the middle we think about it

point at the middle we think about it we understand context around it what is

we understand context around it what is

we understand context around it what is happening around us if I look left or if

happening around us if I look left or if

happening around us if I look left or if I look right I remember all of these

I look right I remember all of these

I look right I remember all of these things together it tells me how I feel

things together it tells me how I feel

things together it tells me how I feel this is how us as humans experience the

this is how us as humans experience the

this is how us as humans experience the world today and this is how

world today and this is how

world today and this is how two-dimensional screens filter us out

two-dimensional screens filter us out

two-dimensional screens filter us out from the world prevent us from making

from the world prevent us from making

from the world prevent us from making this critical human connection let’s go

this critical human connection let’s go

this critical human connection let’s go back for a minute now to that photo we

back for a minute now to that photo we

back for a minute now to that photo we talked about just a few minutes ago now

talked about just a few minutes ago now

talked about just a few minutes ago now let me show it to you now in a slightly

let me show it to you now in a slightly

let me show it to you now in a slightly different way so what I’m gonna do here

different way so what I’m gonna do here

different way so what I’m gonna do here there’s gonna put on this virtual

there’s gonna put on this virtual

there’s gonna put on this virtual reality headset and the first thing I’m

reality headset and the first thing I’m

reality headset and the first thing I’m gonna do is I’m gonna start looking

gonna do is I’m gonna start looking

gonna do is I’m gonna start looking around one of the first things you’re

around one of the first things you’re

around one of the first things you’re gonna notice is that I can start to get

gonna notice is that I can start to get

gonna notice is that I can start to get a sense of what’s outside of the field

a sense of what’s outside of the field

a sense of what’s outside of the field of vision

of vision

of vision I can tell a little rural area and if I

I can tell a little rural area and if I

I can tell a little rural area and if I start to let this play now

I can start to pick up other elements of

I can start to pick up other elements of context I’m in a village I can see how

context I’m in a village I can see how

context I’m in a village I can see how people interact and the longer I stay

people interact and the longer I stay

people interact and the longer I stay here the more I’m gonna pick up of this

here the more I’m gonna pick up of this

here the more I’m gonna pick up of this I can start to get a sense of what life

I can start to get a sense of what life

I can start to get a sense of what life is like in this village I can tell it’s

is like in this village I can tell it’s

is like in this village I can tell it’s a warm day and I can almost start to

a warm day and I can almost start to

a warm day and I can almost start to understand what it’s like to be here

understand what it’s like to be here

understand what it’s like to be here even though I’m not physically there

I’ve only been here a couple of minutes

I’ve only been here a couple of minutes but if I was to stay there longer I

but if I was to stay there longer I

but if I was to stay there longer I could pick up a lot more context a lot

could pick up a lot more context a lot

could pick up a lot more context a lot more understanding this video is called

more understanding this video is called

more understanding this video is called I’m eight it was part of Bill Gates

I’m eight it was part of Bill Gates

I’m eight it was part of Bill Gates travel blog it’s shot in 360 video

travel blog it’s shot in 360 video

travel blog it’s shot in 360 video format which is a much more immersive

format which is a much more immersive

format which is a much more immersive content format than simply 2d standard

content format than simply 2d standard

content format than simply 2d standard formats that you’ve all seen on video

formats that you’ve all seen on video

formats that you’ve all seen on video before why as Bill Gates wanted to share

before why as Bill Gates wanted to share

before why as Bill Gates wanted to share what it was like as much as possible to

what it was like as much as possible to

what it was like as much as possible to physically be there to look around to

physically be there to look around to

physically be there to look around to pick up all those elements of context

pick up all those elements of context

pick up all those elements of context all of those things that made that

all of those things that made that

all of those things that made that memory so powerful that we talked about

memory so powerful that we talked about

memory so powerful that we talked about just a few minutes ago can now start to

just a few minutes ago can now start to

just a few minutes ago can now start to get replicated in this experience it

get replicated in this experience it

get replicated in this experience it brings you much closer to the experience

brings you much closer to the experience

brings you much closer to the experience than simply if I was watching it on

than simply if I was watching it on

than simply if I was watching it on television or what not high-quality

television or what not high-quality

television or what not high-quality virtual reality content is content that

virtual reality content is content that

virtual reality content is content that runs at 60 frames per second or better

runs at 60 frames per second or better

runs at 60 frames per second or better feel the vision of 120 degrees or wider

feel the vision of 120 degrees or wider

feel the vision of 120 degrees or wider with a resolution of 1080p and these are

with a resolution of 1080p and these are

with a resolution of 1080p and these are just rough numbers this isn’t a hard and

just rough numbers this isn’t a hard and

just rough numbers this isn’t a hard and fast rule but somewhere in this range

fast rule but somewhere in this range

fast rule but somewhere in this range something really interesting happens

something really interesting happens

something really interesting happens somewhere in this range your brain no

somewhere in this range your brain no

somewhere in this range your brain no longer distinguishes between this

longer distinguishes between this

longer distinguishes between this simulated image and real life now that’s

simulated image and real life now that’s

simulated image and real life now that’s significant why is that significant well

significant why is that significant well

significant why is that significant well people who are experiencing high-quality

people who are experiencing high-quality

people who are experiencing high-quality virtual reality content starts to

virtual reality content starts to

virtual reality content starts to experience subconscious layers of the

experience subconscious layers of the

experience subconscious layers of the brain that don’t happen when you’re

brain that don’t happen when you’re

brain that don’t happen when you’re watching on television or

watching on television or

watching on television or something basically bad the

something basically bad the

something basically bad the fight-or-flight response starts to get

fight-or-flight response starts to get

fight-or-flight response starts to get engaged emotion spatial orientation

engaged emotion spatial orientation

engaged emotion spatial orientation balance if you’ve ever experienced

balance if you’ve ever experienced

balance if you’ve ever experienced virtual reality you’ll know that your

virtual reality you’ll know that your

virtual reality you’ll know that your brain is telling you you’re moving in a

brain is telling you you’re moving in a

brain is telling you you’re moving in a direction or you’re looking at a certain

direction or you’re looking at a certain

direction or you’re looking at a certain way but in reality you’re standing

way but in reality you’re standing

way but in reality you’re standing completely stationary in this way your

completely stationary in this way your

completely stationary in this way your brain is starting to understand what

brain is starting to understand what

brain is starting to understand what this image is or what this experience is

this image is or what this experience is

this image is or what this experience is but it’s interpreting it in a way you

but it’s interpreting it in a way you

but it’s interpreting it in a way you would experience a human interaction in

would experience a human interaction in

would experience a human interaction in the real world virtual reality can be

the real world virtual reality can be

the real world virtual reality can be used for a lot of different things there

used for a lot of different things there

used for a lot of different things there are so many use cases in the world today

are so many use cases in the world today

are so many use cases in the world today about what virtuality can be used for

about what virtuality can be used for

about what virtuality can be used for empathy cross-cultural experiences think

empathy cross-cultural experiences think

empathy cross-cultural experiences think about it anytime you’ve been told you

about it anytime you’ve been told you

about it anytime you’ve been told you had to have been there or I just can’t

had to have been there or I just can’t

had to have been there or I just can’t explain in words and why is that

explain in words and why is that

explain in words and why is that that’s because virtual reality is very

that’s because virtual reality is very

that’s because virtual reality is very experiential it’s a technology that has

experiential it’s a technology that has

experiential it’s a technology that has to be experienced for example I can

to be experienced for example I can

to be experienced for example I can stand here and I can try to explain to

stand here and I can try to explain to

stand here and I can try to explain to you what it’s like to fly think about it

you what it’s like to fly think about it

you what it’s like to fly think about it this way I can stand her all day but no

this way I can stand her all day but no

this way I can stand her all day but no matter how hard I try no matter how

matter how hard I try no matter how

matter how hard I try no matter how eloquently or how detailed I try to

eloquently or how detailed I try to

eloquently or how detailed I try to explain what it’s like to be off the

explain what it’s like to be off the

explain what it’s like to be off the ground my words are not going to

ground my words are not going to

ground my words are not going to register in your brain in the same way

register in your brain in the same way

register in your brain in the same way as being physically off the ground that

as being physically off the ground that

as being physically off the ground that same sensation doesn’t get activated by

same sensation doesn’t get activated by

same sensation doesn’t get activated by simply telling you words and we

simply telling you words and we

simply telling you words and we understand this but we don’t know why we

understand this but we don’t know why we

understand this but we don’t know why we understand this because we say things

understand this because we say things

understand this because we say things like I just couldn’t explain it you had

like I just couldn’t explain it you had

like I just couldn’t explain it you had to have been there but now we can go

to have been there but now we can go

to have been there but now we can go there now we can get to experience like

there now we can get to experience like

there now we can get to experience like walking a mile in somebody else’s shoes

walking a mile in somebody else’s shoes

walking a mile in somebody else’s shoes the proverbial experience just like I

the proverbial experience just like I

the proverbial experience just like I was showing you for a minute ago

was showing you for a minute ago

was showing you for a minute ago watching this little village in rural

watching this little village in rural

watching this little village in rural Nigeria if I was watching television I

Nigeria if I was watching television I

Nigeria if I was watching television I probably wouldn’t be able to think about

probably wouldn’t be able to think about

probably wouldn’t be able to think about what that life is like but being in the

what that life is like but being in the

what that life is like but being in the middle of it have it operate around me

middle of it have it operate around me

middle of it have it operate around me starts to register on different levels

starts to register on different levels

starts to register on different levels um

um

um and starts to get engaged it starts to

and starts to get engaged it starts to

and starts to get engaged it starts to become more human there’s a lot of

become more human there’s a lot of

become more human there’s a lot of debate in the world today about if

debate in the world today about if

debate in the world today about if virtual reality is the right tool for

virtual reality is the right tool for

virtual reality is the right tool for this this is a great debate I can tell

this this is a great debate I can tell

this this is a great debate I can tell you right now this is not going to be

you right now this is not going to be

you right now this is not going to be settled with words for the very reason I

settled with words for the very reason I

settled with words for the very reason I just explained before virtual reality

just explained before virtual reality

just explained before virtual reality has to be experienced to be understood I

has to be experienced to be understood I

has to be experienced to be understood I simply can’t tell you how it’s going to

simply can’t tell you how it’s going to

simply can’t tell you how it’s going to help us in the future so here’s my

help us in the future so here’s my

help us in the future so here’s my challenge to you today don’t prejudge a

challenge to you today don’t prejudge a

challenge to you today don’t prejudge a virtual reality is simply a new gaming

virtual reality is simply a new gaming

virtual reality is simply a new gaming system or a new way to watch movies or

system or a new way to watch movies or

system or a new way to watch movies or and just another way to tune out the

and just another way to tune out the

and just another way to tune out the rest of the world think of it as a way

rest of the world think of it as a way

rest of the world think of it as a way to tune in the rest of the world to

to tune in the rest of the world to

to tune in the rest of the world to connect with an experience that you may

connect with an experience that you may

connect with an experience that you may have only read about or that maybe

have only read about or that maybe

have only read about or that maybe you’ve seen on TV but you want to

you’ve seen on TV but you want to

you’ve seen on TV but you want to understand it more you’re just not

understand it more you’re just not

understand it more you’re just not getting as much as you need from a new

getting as much as you need from a new

getting as much as you need from a new story or from a publication somewhere so

story or from a publication somewhere so

story or from a publication somewhere so experienced virtual reality for yourself

experienced virtual reality for yourself

experienced virtual reality for yourself but more importantly experience virtual

but more importantly experience virtual

but more importantly experience virtual reality as a way to get in touch with

reality as a way to get in touch with

reality as a way to get in touch with the rest of the world and in doing so

the rest of the world and in doing so

the rest of the world and in doing so make the world more human thank you very

make the world more human thank you very

make the world more human thank you very much

much

much [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *