University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
Dawn of the New Everything
A review of

Dawn of the New Everything

Encounters with Reality and Virtual Reality

Jaron Lanier • Henry Holt • 2017

Prescient Philosophy

by David Meyer

Virtual reality genius and avatar Jaron Lanier discusses the many uses and abuses of cyberspace.

Scientist, musician and writer Jaron Lanier co-founded VPL Research in 1984 to produce the first commercial VR products for entertainment, industry and academic clients. Lanier regards VR as an evolving conduit for elevating human endeavor on the technological, philosophical and scientific frontier. He provides both a tech history and compelling arguments on the danger and utility of VR.

Virtual Reality

Lanier devised the term “virtual reality” in the 1980s. Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-user interface with social and somatic – bodily – qualities. Lanier believes VR weaves together “cinema, jazz and programming.”

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