Improving Humans: Enhancing the complex sociological being with the virtual

Abstract

In this paper, we argue in favour of using an immersive Virtual Environment (VE) in order to improve human capabilities. We develop this idea in order to advance the potential of VEs in enhancing humans. Training with VEs has proven in some cases to be more efficient than training in real world situations in terms of the reduction of time consumption, risk reduction, easily presenting specific simulation realism, all of which improve learning capabilities. The VE would be an environment for extending human capabilities, the goal being to increase experiences. This last affirmation could renew the scope of action for AH research: acquiring new needed capabilities from the virtual world that would be usable in both worlds, real and virtual.