Embodiment Elsewhere
摘要
Chapter 4 examines the impacts of being as-if-embodied in another world, a tangible but digitally created other place which we can visit, and in which we can (inter)act and sometimes socialise. Utilising virtual realityvirtual reality technology enables a profound perceptual experience, creating the perceptual illusion of being situated in a location distinct from our bodily physical presencepresence, a powerful form of technology-mediated presence. We illustrate this kind of situation with a scenario about an elderly “digital travellertraveller” taking a virtual vacationvirtual vacation in Spain, having an enjoyable, fulfilling and memorable time there. The experience of being in another place is increasingly used in a wide range of interactive therapeutic situations. It comprises a form of disembodimentdisembodiment, but is also subjectively a partial re-embodimentre-embodiment in another place. The potential benefits of perceiving oneself to be displaced to an alternate location are numerous, encompassing digital traveltravel for the elderly or infirm, painpain relief, treatment for various phobiasphobias and PTSDPTSD, as well as experiences that are calming or even self-transcendentself-transcendent. However, there are also potential disadvantages, such as displacementdisplacement-induced anxietyanxiety.