Blurring the lines between real and virtual

HP has just announced a fairly interesting device, one that seeks to blur the lines between the real world and the virtual world, and I think that this is a very innovative idea.

The device renders real world images into digital landscapes, with images, sounds and textures. Overlaid on top these landscapes would be additional information, such as GPS markers which would in turn affect game play. So you could conceivably convert the real world environment into any game world, complete with goals/objectives/targets. Imagine visualising a street, rendered into any scenario you like (medieval, sci-fi, etc). And now imagine it being done in real-time, as you are walking down that same street. Imagine turning real life into a game! Turning the world into a virtual playground!

That idea blows my mind.

Each piece of technology that can continually blur the lines between real and virtual excites me, because it can affect the way in which we percieve the world. It's like seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses, if those glasses included targetting reticles.

I am doubtful about the technical aspects of this device, because I'm not so sure I want to be carrying a clumsy device in front of my face the whole time I'm walking somewhere. But imagine if these were far more portable, or existed as implants, and you could see them straight with your eye. The very nature of percieving would forever be changed.

Everything you percieve is entirely up to you. And you can once again view the world as a child would; a world that is full of wonder and discovery.

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