Microsoft Believes That Virtual Reality is The Equivalent of The Digital LSD for The Future.

According to experts at Microsoft, the future of virtual reality may resemble an psychedelic journey rather than a typical gaming experience. As part of a study on their predictions for the next ten years, a researcher suggested that using VR technology could potentially induce illusions that merge or modify our perception of reality. They argue that advancements in features like enhanced haptic feedback and precise tracking of bodily motions will transform virtual reality into a holistic sensory adventure, going beyond just visual and auditory stimuli.

During a project conducted by Microsoft, researchers were questioned on their predictions for the future of virtual reality in both 2017 and 2027. 

One team member, Mar Gonzalez Franco, suggested that within ten years, VR technology could advance to the point of being able to induce realistic hallucinations.

In a statement, Ms. Gonzalez Franco expressed her belief that by the year 2027, virtual reality systems will be so advanced that they will offer immersive experiences that can potentially distort one's sense of reality. She further suggested that these groundbreaking technologies could be used to enhance and refine human perception systems.

"In contrast to the current virtual reality systems that only stimulate the visual and auditory senses, the future of the virtual reality experience will evolve to include other sensory modalities such as touch with the use of haptic devices." Shifting the focus towards the near future, she also gave insight into the advancements we can expect to see next year. "In 2017, we will witness the introduction of virtual reality devices with enhanced body tracking capabilities." A significant benefit of this advancement will be the ability to fully embody virtual avatars from a first-person perspective.

Virtual reality has already drawn parallels with the psychedelic drug-culture of the 1960s. Earlier this year, a company attempted to replicate the effects of LSD using HTV headsets, immersing the user in a virtual world filled with vibrant colors and dynamic shapes to emulate the sensations of the drug. However, despite the trippy nature of virtual reality-induced hallucinations, feedback from other researchers at Microsoft involved in the project may dampen the enthusiasm. They foresee that as artificial intelligence progresses, it will continue to gather data from all aspects of our lives.