By James Hertsch III (jwhertsc@bulldog.unca.edu)
From the pages of Paradigma:
Like many of my fellow Scientists, I have worked with the Virtual Adepts in what they call "Virtual Reality." Unfortunately, when you take off th helmet, and remove the glove, the Virtual Reality is gone, and you realize that these Adepts, for all they talk about the "Web," are just playing what is essentially a giant video game when they venture out on the Digital Web.
I mean, consider the "formatted sectors" for a moment! Virtual Adepts go in there, and create a giant fantasy world, and remove themselves from what the rest of us fondly call "the real world."
After experiencing this marvel (and growing bored with my inability to interact with people outside this artificial environment), I hit upon an idea: what if I could include people outside the Web in my formatted sector? Moreover, what if I could bring the beauty of Virtual Reality to the Untrained masses, to bring the wonders of technology to someone beyond the mere Elites?
Unfortunately, my Device is still in the conceptual phase -- my last prototype collapsed upon itself, and I've had to return to the charts and diagrams many times!
The key, of course, is to link relatively straightforward virtual reality technologies (the helmets and gloves and such) with a psychokinetic interface. Initially, I tried to use forcefields to simulate the environment around the User, but later realized that these force fields were too taxing on the Device's power supply.
While I have yet to perfect the device's projection capabilities, my current prototypes allow the user to experience the virtual reality without the cumbersome helmets, gloves, or bodysuits. It merely requires a miniature chip planted behind the user's ear, and a dedicated room.
When the Device is activated, it processes the data from the Virtual Web, and, using well-established principals of Ether-Matter transmutation, causes the dedicated space to become an exact replica of the virtual environment -- right down to the visitors!
Additionally, other guests may interact with the virtual environment without having to plug themselves into the Web. The Device then processes their interactions, and feeds these actions back to the Digital Web.
. Use: The user uses the machine to tune into the Digital Web, and then places a chip behind his ear. As of this writing, Doctor Cornelius is working on improving the device, such that it will totall simulate the Web experience, and not even necessitate the use of the chip. Once activated, the Device uses this rote:
Correspondence 5 is used to mutate the local area into an area identical to the current sector of the Digital Web. Mind 3 allows the Device to interface with the user (Doctor Cornelius is working on phasing out this part of the device), and to "read" the icons of other users interacting with the User. Matter 5, Forces 5, and Life 5 assist in projecting sensations outward from the Device, and, along with Prime 2, fuel a full simulation of the Digital Web.
Each hour of use consumes 5 Quintessence from the Device, unless it is "plugged in" to a Node capable of furnishing this level of Quintessence.
Editor's note: Cornelius's colleagues have observed that, to date, he has not demonstrated the grasp of the scientific concepts inherent in creating a Device this complicated. It is believed that several of his lab partners contributed heavily to the construction of this Device.