Title :
Virtual harms and real responsibility
Author :
Huff, Chuck ; Johnson, Deborah G. ; Miller, Keith
Author_Institution :
Saint Olaf Coll., Northfield, MN, USA
Abstract :
This is a preliminary sort of the ethical and metaphysical issues arising and in general from virtual reality environments. The lessons we learned seem promising, but more analysis remains. Perhaps the most important lesson is that virtual actions and interactions have consequences for flesh-and-blood persons and hence, the flesh controllers of virtual action, whether they control directly (as in playing a character) or indirectly (as in designing a virtual world), have responsibilities for their actions.
Keywords :
Internet; professional aspects; social aspects of automation; virtual reality; ethical issues; metaphysical issues; responsibilities; virtual actions; virtual interactions; virtual reality environments; virtual world; Databases; Ethics; Hair; Internet; Multiuser detection; Programming profession; Software tools; Virtual environment; Virtual reality;
Journal_Title :
Technology and Society Magazine, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MTAS.2003.1216238