Virtual Reality – the uncharted territory | Eddie King | TEDxMaastricht

[Music]

[Music] you

I need to tell you all a story last year

I need to tell you all a story last year a woman by the name of Jordan Bella

a woman by the name of Jordan Bella

a woman by the name of Jordan Bella Meyer was sexually assaulted in virtual

Meyer was sexually assaulted in virtual

Meyer was sexually assaulted in virtual reality she was playing a video game

reality she was playing a video game

reality she was playing a video game with the system comprised of a headset

with the system comprised of a headset

with the system comprised of a headset which she could use to look around and a

which she could use to look around and a

which she could use to look around and a motion controller in each hand which he

motion controller in each hand which he

motion controller in each hand which he could use to reach out and interact the

could use to reach out and interact the

could use to reach out and interact the game system was able to superimpose an

game system was able to superimpose an

game system was able to superimpose an avatar onto her body a body which

avatar onto her body a body which

avatar onto her body a body which corresponding to her real one another

corresponding to her real one another

corresponding to her real one another player came up to miss Bella Meyer and

player came up to miss Bella Meyer and

player came up to miss Bella Meyer and reached for her breasts her groin later

reached for her breasts her groin later

reached for her breasts her groin later in an interview she described the

in an interview she described the

in an interview she described the feeling of violation as her husband and

feeling of violation as her husband and

feeling of violation as her husband and brother-in-law watched the feeling of

brother-in-law watched the feeling of

brother-in-law watched the feeling of that reality encroaching on this one

that reality encroaching on this one

that reality encroaching on this one take a second imagine looking down on a

take a second imagine looking down on a

take a second imagine looking down on a body that looks just the way you look

body that looks just the way you look

body that looks just the way you look that moves when you move and imagine

that moves when you move and imagine

that moves when you move and imagine watching someone touch and manipulate

watching someone touch and manipulate

watching someone touch and manipulate that body

that body

that body my name is Edmund King and I study law

my name is Edmund King and I study law

my name is Edmund King and I study law here at Maastricht University I wanted

here at Maastricht University I wanted

here at Maastricht University I wanted to know what this story meant I can tell

to know what this story meant I can tell

to know what this story meant I can tell you now there was no crime committed but

you now there was no crime committed but

you now there was no crime committed but there was harm there was no crime

there was harm there was no crime

there was harm there was no crime committed because we don’t have fully

committed because we don’t have fully

committed because we don’t have fully developed rules for dealing with this

developed rules for dealing with this

developed rules for dealing with this kind of situation that is because

kind of situation that is because

kind of situation that is because virtual reality is a technology unlike

virtual reality is a technology unlike

virtual reality is a technology unlike anything that has come before in the

anything that has come before in the

anything that has come before in the case of printed media the sensory

case of printed media the sensory

case of printed media the sensory experience of the consumer is for the

experience of the consumer is for the

experience of the consumer is for the most part internalized visual media

most part internalized visual media

most part internalized visual media allows us to witness things we could not

allows us to witness things we could not

allows us to witness things we could not imagine yet we still have context we

imagine yet we still have context we

imagine yet we still have context we know that what is happening is happening

know that what is happening is happening

know that what is happening is happening on a screen because we’re able to

on a screen because we’re able to

on a screen because we’re able to contextualize and separate the images

contextualize and separate the images

contextualize and separate the images from the realities of our homes or movie

from the realities of our homes or movie

from the realities of our homes or movie theaters virtual reality erodes that

theaters virtual reality erodes that

theaters virtual reality erodes that context this gives it a maze

context this gives it a maze

context this gives it a maze potential already it’s being used by

potential already it’s being used by

potential already it’s being used by doctors to help correct lazy eyes by

doctors to help correct lazy eyes by

doctors to help correct lazy eyes by psychologists to help treat people for

psychologists to help treat people for

psychologists to help treat people for post-traumatic stress disorders and

post-traumatic stress disorders and

post-traumatic stress disorders and phobias educators are able to give their

phobias educators are able to give their

phobias educators are able to give their students experiences that would be

students experiences that would be

students experiences that would be impossible otherwise we rely on our

impossible otherwise we rely on our

impossible otherwise we rely on our senses to gain knowledge and information

senses to gain knowledge and information

senses to gain knowledge and information about the world around us as technology

about the world around us as technology

about the world around us as technology improves those same senses make less and

improves those same senses make less and

improves those same senses make less and less of a distinction between realities

less of a distinction between realities

less of a distinction between realities we are immersed in a world which is

we are immersed in a world which is

we are immersed in a world which is different from the one we inhabit in

different from the one we inhabit in

different from the one we inhabit in this moment so imagine the difference in

this moment so imagine the difference in

this moment so imagine the difference in sensation between pressing a button to

sensation between pressing a button to

sensation between pressing a button to shoot someone on a screen or having to

shoot someone on a screen or having to

shoot someone on a screen or having to stand over your victim move to pull out

stand over your victim move to pull out

stand over your victim move to pull out a weapon aim and actually pull the

a weapon aim and actually pull the

a weapon aim and actually pull the trigger that experience is bundled

trigger that experience is bundled

trigger that experience is bundled together with pretty much every other

together with pretty much every other

together with pretty much every other form of visual media games are games

form of visual media games are games

form of visual media games are games movies are movies they can be accessed

movies are movies they can be accessed

movies are movies they can be accessed just as easily and created just as

just as easily and created just as

just as easily and created just as freely despite the fact that the

freely despite the fact that the

freely despite the fact that the elevated sensory experience is different

elevated sensory experience is different

elevated sensory experience is different around the world our system of

around the world our system of

around the world our system of regulating access is primarily concerned

regulating access is primarily concerned

regulating access is primarily concerned with limiting liability of retailers at

with limiting liability of retailers at

with limiting liability of retailers at the point of physical sale so

the point of physical sale so

the point of physical sale so theoretically a child can’t walk into a

theoretically a child can’t walk into a

theoretically a child can’t walk into a shop and buy mature rated content over

shop and buy mature rated content over

shop and buy mature rated content over the counter makes sense but online all

the counter makes sense but online all

the counter makes sense but online all any of us have to do is tick a box this

any of us have to do is tick a box this

any of us have to do is tick a box this offers very little in the way of real

offers very little in the way of real

offers very little in the way of real protection real safeguards a fractured

protection real safeguards a fractured

protection real safeguards a fractured system which doesn’t take into account

system which doesn’t take into account

system which doesn’t take into account the homogeny of an open Internet until

the homogeny of an open Internet until

the homogeny of an open Internet until now that has been enough but moving

now that has been enough but moving

now that has been enough but moving forward we might need more let’s go back

forward we might need more let’s go back

forward we might need more let’s go back to miss Bella Myers story we know how

to miss Bella Myers story we know how

to miss Bella Myers story we know how she accessed the game she wasn’t a child

she accessed the game she wasn’t a child

she accessed the game she wasn’t a child who made it possible another

who made it possible another

who made it possible another conversation we might have is whether it

conversation we might have is whether it

conversation we might have is whether it is

is

is the call to create these experiences in

the call to create these experiences in

the call to create these experiences in such detail currently the authors of

such detail currently the authors of

such detail currently the authors of media are to a greater extent protected

media are to a greater extent protected

media are to a greater extent protected by their freedoms of expression that

by their freedoms of expression that

by their freedoms of expression that hasn’t stopped governments across the

hasn’t stopped governments across the

hasn’t stopped governments across the world banning certain games and movies

world banning certain games and movies

world banning certain games and movies but once again there’s no distinction

but once again there’s no distinction

but once again there’s no distinction between virtual reality and regular

between virtual reality and regular

between virtual reality and regular content this leaves gaps in the law as

content this leaves gaps in the law as

content this leaves gaps in the law as we try to apply existing norms to an

we try to apply existing norms to an

we try to apply existing norms to an evolving situation some will ask why a

evolving situation some will ask why a

evolving situation some will ask why a willing consumer should not be able to

willing consumer should not be able to

willing consumer should not be able to simulate a violent experience is this

simulate a violent experience is this

simulate a violent experience is this not over-regulation indeed a theoretical

not over-regulation indeed a theoretical

not over-regulation indeed a theoretical economic demand for simulated bloodshed

economic demand for simulated bloodshed

economic demand for simulated bloodshed might well be representative of an

might well be representative of an

might well be representative of an emerging societal norm of acceptance the

emerging societal norm of acceptance the

emerging societal norm of acceptance the thing is outside of well the military

thing is outside of well the military

thing is outside of well the military and certain controlled sporting

and certain controlled sporting

and certain controlled sporting environments violence is for the most

environments violence is for the most

environments violence is for the most part discouraged if not illegal is

part discouraged if not illegal is

part discouraged if not illegal is allowing the additional element of the

allowing the additional element of the

allowing the additional element of the physicality of VR to become mainstream

physicality of VR to become mainstream

physicality of VR to become mainstream overly desensitizing I have younger

overly desensitizing I have younger

overly desensitizing I have younger brothers and both of them are fully

brothers and both of them are fully

brothers and both of them are fully embracing different types of media and

embracing different types of media and

embracing different types of media and technology into their lives as they grow

technology into their lives as they grow

technology into their lives as they grow up Joshua who’s the youngest he’s still

up Joshua who’s the youngest he’s still

up Joshua who’s the youngest he’s still getting to grips with an iPad but Robert

getting to grips with an iPad but Robert

getting to grips with an iPad but Robert who is 14 finished building his first

who is 14 finished building his first

who is 14 finished building his first computer over the summer if I think

computer over the summer if I think

computer over the summer if I think about their relationship to technology

about their relationship to technology

about their relationship to technology compared to mine at their age it’s

compared to mine at their age it’s

compared to mine at their age it’s almost inconceivable that we’re part of

almost inconceivable that we’re part of

almost inconceivable that we’re part of the same generation it’s equally

the same generation it’s equally

the same generation it’s equally inconceivable to consider the additional

inconceivable to consider the additional

inconceivable to consider the additional risks that they’re exposed to we also

risks that they’re exposed to we also

risks that they’re exposed to we also need to talk about choice the difference

need to talk about choice the difference

need to talk about choice the difference between virtual reality and real life is

between virtual reality and real life is

between virtual reality and real life is that you are i engaging at any virtual

that you are i engaging at any virtual

that you are i engaging at any virtual activity is a question of choice the

activity is a question of choice the

activity is a question of choice the problem is that increasingly it isn’t it

problem is that increasingly it isn’t it

problem is that increasingly it isn’t it isn’t realistically feasible to exist

isn’t realistically feasible to exist

isn’t realistically feasible to exist without an email or not to part

without an email or not to part

without an email or not to part taking social media it’s possible but

taking social media it’s possible but

taking social media it’s possible but often debilitating recently Finland

often debilitating recently Finland

often debilitating recently Finland became the first country to grant to its

became the first country to grant to its

became the first country to grant to its citizens as a right access to broadband

citizens as a right access to broadband

citizens as a right access to broadband internet everyone in this room has

internet everyone in this room has

internet everyone in this room has certain rights online not to have

certain rights online not to have

certain rights online not to have information stolen not to be bullied but

information stolen not to be bullied but

information stolen not to be bullied but miss Bella Mayer did not have the right

miss Bella Mayer did not have the right

miss Bella Mayer did not have the right to be treated any differently at what

to be treated any differently at what

to be treated any differently at what point do we accept that the inherent

point do we accept that the inherent

point do we accept that the inherent risk the potential harm is so great in

risk the potential harm is so great in

risk the potential harm is so great in an immersive environment that we need

an immersive environment that we need

an immersive environment that we need clearly defined rules virtual actions

clearly defined rules virtual actions

clearly defined rules virtual actions have all too real consequences at what

have all too real consequences at what

have all too real consequences at what point do we acknowledge that what

point do we acknowledge that what

point do we acknowledge that what happened to miss Bella Maier could

happened to miss Bella Maier could

happened to miss Bella Maier could happen to so many others and go

happen to so many others and go

happen to so many others and go unpunished virtual reality expands the

unpunished virtual reality expands the

unpunished virtual reality expands the intimacy with which we can interact

intimacy with which we can interact

intimacy with which we can interact online inevitably as we go forward it

online inevitably as we go forward it

online inevitably as we go forward it will become necessary but that’s the

will become necessary but that’s the

will become necessary but that’s the beauty that’s the beauty of virtual

beauty that’s the beauty of virtual

beauty that’s the beauty of virtual reality I’m a huge proponent of making

reality I’m a huge proponent of making

reality I’m a huge proponent of making this technology mainstream I’m excited

this technology mainstream I’m excited

this technology mainstream I’m excited and I know that when it is we will all

and I know that when it is we will all

and I know that when it is we will all be better off and it will act as a force

be better off and it will act as a force

be better off and it will act as a force for connecting the world this is the

for connecting the world this is the

for connecting the world this is the future ladies and gentlemen but we can

future ladies and gentlemen but we can

future ladies and gentlemen but we can only do that by building a cultural and

only do that by building a cultural and

only do that by building a cultural and legal platform I’m not a professor I’m

legal platform I’m not a professor I’m

legal platform I’m not a professor I’m not an expert I’m not here to answer the

not an expert I’m not here to answer the

not an expert I’m not here to answer the questions that I’ve raised today we have

questions that I’ve raised today we have

questions that I’ve raised today we have to do that together whether virtual

to do that together whether virtual

to do that together whether virtual content needs to have narrower access

content needs to have narrower access

content needs to have narrower access online whether developers can create

online whether developers can create

online whether developers can create freely whether we need to have clearly

freely whether we need to have clearly

freely whether we need to have clearly defined rights to guarantee a safe space

defined rights to guarantee a safe space

defined rights to guarantee a safe space for everyone information and debate the

for everyone information and debate the

for everyone information and debate the most valuable things we can have right

most valuable things we can have right

most valuable things we can have right now ladies and gentlemen there are so

now ladies and gentlemen there are so

now ladies and gentlemen there are so many different ways of looking and what

many different ways of looking and what

many different ways of looking and what Jordan Bella Maya story means this talk

Jordan Bella Maya story means this talk

Jordan Bella Maya story means this talk is about awareness of our evolving

is about awareness of our evolving

is about awareness of our evolving situation we’ve sold problems like this

situation we’ve sold problems like this

situation we’ve sold problems like this in the past the

in the past the

in the past the creation of the Internet the rise of

creation of the Internet the rise of

creation of the Internet the rise of social media ever more closely

social media ever more closely

social media ever more closely integrated personal computers we will

integrated personal computers we will

integrated personal computers we will solve the problems of VR now the sooner

solve the problems of VR now the sooner

solve the problems of VR now the sooner we do the sooner we can start really

we do the sooner we can start really

we do the sooner we can start really protecting people and really using this

protecting people and really using this

protecting people and really using this technology what it is meant for and to

technology what it is meant for and to

technology what it is meant for and to its full potential thank you

its full potential thank you

its full potential thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

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