ZocDoc is a pair of glasses that allow the user to see a whole different scenery. It was invented and placed in the waiting room of a dentistry to bring some pleasure to bored patients. The sceneries were of green meadows and horses or a blue pond with encasing rocks, and more.All of the scenes were of nature, so I can understand why it would help those who are a bit anxious to meet the dentist. But if this product was marketed just so that patients have something to do during the wait, I begin to worry for our generation. Those types of inventions are cool and all, but there have been multiple instances where a video game player used those types of glasses to fully experience the game and ended up in a mental asylum. I just think warping our current reality is a bad idea from the getgo.
The moments that we just wait in silence is also important, in my opinion. Like Mr. Tagg says sometimes, there isn't enough silence in this generation and society. There are noises and music everywhere. I personally am privileged to go to the mountains for a weekend every summer, so I enjoy those peaceful moments where you don't hear any cars racing by but only the distant creek and leaves rustling from the slight breeze.
My overall reaction to this invention was, what is becoming of our society. More inventions because of more creativity and inspiration. I get that. But why not lean towards some specific inventions and forget those that could cause some serious psychological damage.
I personally think having to take off the glasses when your name is called in the dentist room and then face reality and a dentist at the same moment is not worth putting myself in the vulnerable situation in the first place.
I think this is a pretty cool concept! However, I think there is a sort of sadness that comes along with it. The fact that we are so constantly dissatisfied that we have to find solace in products such as this, that we have to find pleasure and happiness from an artificial reality is kind of depressing. We must constantly be entertained, and I don't think that's healthy, like what Tagg says. Really good read!
ReplyDeleteYou are making a few assumptions, one being that changing reality to something more pleasing is bad. Another being that people can't/don't go crazy in silence, which has definitely happened. Do I agree with you, certainly. I think peaceful moments are essential for my mental health. Going to Yosemite for a couple of hours with my family is far better for my sanity than watching Netflix all day or agonizing over a media blog comment. Being able to escape has always been a powerful tool of the media. Novels, for example can bring the reader away from reality for hours. I suppose radio can too, but I am not as familiar with that. With the invention of TV and Virtual Reality glasses/ goggles, the experience is far more persuasive and dangerous. But at the same time, who doesn't want to escape the stresses of being in High School for 20 minutes by watching a 30 Rock or Parks and Rec? If used correctly, escapism can be productive. It shouldn't substitute for the real thing, people should still go to Yosemite more often, but people also have schedules.
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