Virtual Realism [Paperback]

Michael Heim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 13, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0195138740 | ISBN-13: 978-0195138740

Virtual reality has introduced what is literally a new dimension of reality to daily life. But it is not without controversy. Indeed, some say that a collision is inevitable between those passionately involved in the computer industry and those increasingly alienated from (and often replaced by) its applications. Opinions range from the cyberpunk attitude of Wired magazine and Bill Gates's commercial optimism to the violent opposition of the Unabomber. Now, with Virtual Realism, readers have a thought-provoking guide to the "cyberspace backlash" debate and the implications of cyberspace for our culture.

Michael Heim offers a comprehensive introduction to virtual reality and a provocative commentary on its present and future impact on our lives. Heim describes the fascinating and important industrial and military uses of virtual reality, as well as its artistic and entertainment applications. He argues that we must balance the idealist's enthusiasm for computerized life with the need to ground ourselves more deeply in primary reality. This "uneasy balance" he calls virtual realism.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What's commonly described as "virtual reality" or "VR" is a pale imitation of the real thing according to Michael Heim. But the real thing, he declares, is fast approaching. We'll soon be able to totally immerse ourselves in detail-rich, highly interactive artificial worlds. This scares some, but Heim explores our ability to merge VR capabilities into the human experience in very positive ways--without falling prey to technological pollyannaism. Virtual Realism offers a fascinating exploration of the technological and artistic sides of VR and offers some exciting challenges to old assumptions about where nature ends and cyberspace begins. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A pleasant, easily readable account of several applications of computer technology to create experiential art and one or two useful tools."--The Washington Post Book World

"Heim's views on technology are far removed from the routine rhetoric of cyberhype. With one foot in the book-crammed world of the humanist scholar and the other in the factories of the future, his ideas are always sensitive to both the euphoria and the anxiety which new technologies engender. Above all, his approach is pragmatic: accepting our technological fate and examining different ways to absorb its impact."--Mark Nixon, Twenty First Century

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Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 13, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195138740
• ISBN-13: 978-0195138740
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #747,149 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Heim teaches at graduate schools in Southern California. He is a Fulbright Scholar (Freiburg and Berlin) whose first book translated Martin Heidegger's Metaphysical Foundations of Logic. He has lectured at the Netherlands Institute for Design, SIGGRAPH, the Power Plant Gallery, UNESCO in Rio de Janeiro, the Banff Centre for the Arts, and the Institute for Intercultural Studies in Kyoto, Japan. He has consulted at many institutions, including Alfred University, the Multimedia Program of the Danish Humanities Research Council, and six national Virtual Reality conferences in Washington D.C. sponsored by the Data Processing Management Association. See http://www.mheim.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A meditative investigation of the impact of virtual reality, July 1, 1998

By 

David Robertson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtual Realism (Hardcover)

This is the latest in a series of books by Michael Heim on the human changes, both good and bad, wrought by the introduction of computers. Virtual Realism in particular seeks to find a balance between a retreat from technology and the wholesale embrace of it without regard for the consequences. He starts out defining the technology of virtual reality in such a way as to understand the strong reactions to it. He follows with a series of essays seeking to find the balance implied by the title. This is an accessible but always interesting book not requiring an extensive technical or philosophical background. His analysis is not exhaustive or linear, but that is not his intent. He brings up and ponders the big issues involved with human adoption of and adaptation to a powerful new technology.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most interesting and thoughtful discussions of VR to date., June 16, 1998

By 

michele ([e-mail]) (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtual Realism (Hardcover)

Michael Heim's "Virtual Realism" is a critical yet pragmatic exploration of the present state and future evolution of virtual reality (VR) technology. Unlike much of the predominate rhetoric of VR theory, Heim's does not situate himself as either a VR idealist or alarmist, but instead offers a strategy for reconciling these polar positions by way of a critical, yet pragmatic analysis called "virtual realism". What is most is interesting about this book is the eclectic array of examples Heim's uses to support and illustrate his strategy. By drawing on examples as diverse as interactive art exhibits, the music of Glenn Gould and Jim Morrison, and extending to nuclear waste sites, he envisions a not only better ways to live with technology, but ways to make technology more humane. Heim's writing is both eloquent and accessible making "Virtual Realism" an insightful study for anyone interested in the impact of technology on our social and physical environment.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, June 12, 1998

By 

Bruce Haldeman ([e-mail]) (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Virtual Realism (Hardcover)

Michael Heim has written a very balanced look at Virtual Reality. In fact, he has even coined a term for it; Virtual Realism, to contrast with the over hyped ramblings of the "network idealists". I found myself taking time to savor this book. It is not a page turner in the proverbial sense. Rather the book causes one to calmly meditate on the current "Art of Virtual Reality". It also introduces novel (to me anyway) concepts such as two models of virtual world building: the tunnel and the spiral. One of the final chapters goes in depth about Nature and Cyberspace, something that I had never considered in the same thought. Despite being about a subject that is somewhat "out there" this book was very approachable. If you are at all remotely interested in man and computers, networks, the nature of reality or other philosophical topics central to the new millenium then buy this book. Read it carefully. Enjoy.