Home Gaming Oculus Rift experiment lets you swap bodies (video NSFW)

Oculus Rift experiment lets you swap bodies (video NSFW)

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6

Oculusswap

Although not particularly game related, a new experiment conducted by Be Another Lab uses two Oculus Rifts to simulate being in someone else’s body. Two people are placed together in identical rooms and move symmetrically while viewing the other’s feed, simulating being in the other person’s body. Called “The Machine to Be Another” the goal of the experiment is to explore human empathy and the nature of self identity.

Gender Swap – Experiment with The Machine to Be Another from BeAnotherLab on Vimeo.

“As members of this collective, the perception of our own identity is based on our relation with other people and our social environment: how people see us, how we do act and interact with them, and what self image we project to this society and to ourselves.”

“As part of this collective society, it is clear the importance of understanding the ‘Other’ and ‘Each Other’ to better understand ourselves. This artistic investigation plans to use the recent neuroscience approach of ’embodiment’ and apply it to investigate the perception and comprehension about the Self based on the comprehension of the ‘Other.'”

It sounds pretty poncy, but I also really want to try it. It shows the possibilities of applications of the Oculus Rift outside of entertainment. I would imagine that it would give you some serious gender and body dysmorphia. The only downside is the lack of feeling the other’s body, rather than your own, which may break immersion. All I know is, I am one oddly aroused journalist right now.

Last Updated: January 23, 2014

6 Comments

  1. iPrimal

    January 23, 2014 at 20:28

    This is all I needed to make a decision.

    Reply

  2. RinceThis2014

    January 24, 2014 at 09:31

    Just saw this now. Damn that is interesting stuff. I can see this being very useful for PTSD. I know that soldiers who suffer from Ghost Limb Syndrome find relief in VR and this takes it one step further as the VR used up till not is pretty basic.

    Reply

    • Dean_12

      January 24, 2014 at 09:53

      Correct, this reminds me of the mirror box illusion and I think that it is going to be extremely beneficial in those terms and to the psychological practice as a whole.

      Reply

  3. MichaelMatusowsky

    January 24, 2014 at 09:54

    BOOBS

    Reply

  4. Rags

    January 24, 2014 at 11:11

    Single player support? 🙁
    Wait wait wait, this is going to replace webcam girls! Any potential investors please contact me!

    Reply

  5. Dong Blak

    January 26, 2014 at 01:27

    The SQUID device from Strange Days. In the Australian version do they pair the test subjects with crocs or great whites. 🙂

    Reply

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