Page 23 - Emerging Technologies in the Military - John Cris Vincent S. Pelletero - Group 2

VI. Ethical Issues in the Implementation

Virtual reality has a few issues that needs to be resolved. Since the resurgence of VR,

ethical issues arise left and right. The following are ten ethical concerns about virtual reality:

 Sensory vulnerability

Virtual reality doesn’t just use headsets which covers the eyes as well as

the ears. It also uses VR gloves, and a growing number of accessories

and attachments. While these accessories will make the VR experience

more realistic, it also limits the users access to their sense data which

leaves them vulnerable to accidents that can come from being distracted.

 Social isolation

VR presents a danger of making people neglect their real-world social

connections. This is on top of a study which shows that social media is

already making its users feel more socially isolated.

 Desensitization

Due to the emergence of violent games, there is a danger that VR will

make its users be less affectionate or less affected by violence.

Last year (2017), academic researchers in the U.S. released the result of

longitudinal study which found that repeatedly playing violent video

games led to decrease emotional sensitivity and a lessened capacity for

guilt among participants. Due to higher levels of immersion, there is a big

possibility that this effect could be more potent with virtual reality.
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20 https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/04/10-ethical-concerns-that-will-shape-the-vr-industry/
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