As the use of virtual worlds, games and augmented reality increase are there limits to virtuality? What ethical dilemmas will we face in the years ahead? Is there a role for government in regulating virtual content?

Join us at the Metanomics Main Stage on Thursday September 10th at 12:00 p.m. PST/SLT as Dusan Writer (Doug Thompson) hosts a discussion of “limits to virtuality”. You can also participate live via the Web.

How Old Is Your Avatar?
by Dusan Writer
(Update: a longer post on this topic can be found here).

This week’s forum comes from a decidedly personal experience – I spent last week at a little house in the woods in the Hudson Valley outside of New York City. And I spent it with my family and my 20 month-old nephew. And one of the things that occurred to me as I spent time playing with him was this: even though I’m an evangelist and believe in the power of virtual worlds, and games, and technology – I hope that my nephew arrives at these things as late as possible.

There’s something vaguely frightening to me about an avatar for a 2 year old….or a 5 year old….or…..well, I wasn’t sure. Which had me wondering: is there a limit that I’d put on ‘virtuality’? Is there an age below which kids shouldn’t participate in on-line worlds? Is that a bias in my thinking? Am I really a Luddite at heart? And is it sufficient to say “it’s up to the parents” when even for myself I’m not always aware of the ways in which platform owners are constructing on-line environments with the goal of maximizing profits and engagement.

So this week I’d like to hear your thoughts:

- What limits would you place on virtual worlds?

- Are there age limits at which virtual worlds should be out-of-bounds?

- New systems for games and virtual worlds include the ability of the platform to read and respond to emotions (for example, the Emotiv head-set) – how do we address a future in which virtuality is able to read our thoughts and feelings in order to make an environment compelling?

- For adults, what will the content rating system of the future look like? What lessons can we draw from Linden Lab’s attempt to partition adult-oriented content? Will other types of content give rise to ethical or cultural dilemmas? (E.g. violence)

- Will there be a role for government in setting policies?

Join us this Thursday and share your thoughts.