[RAR] You get a full-immersion VR neural interface helmet.

[Rossum]

Q shows up and offers you a VR neural interface helmet, along with an instruction manual, a suite of software for making programs on it, some sample software, schematics for making more of the device, and a small black-box fabrication unit that can make more of them (and replacement parts) out of scrap.

The device itself resembles a large set of headphones with a USB cable and some smaller ports and switches in the back. When hooked up to a computer, the device can be used to fullyn immerse the user in a VR world (functionally identical to the devices in the anime Sword Art Online, particularly the AmuSphere). This one has numerous safety features built in, namely that the device can always be removed with no risk of injury (aside from temporary disorientation). Similarly, the user must willingly relax to enter the VR state and can always will themselves out of it conciously or if their body feels hunger, pain, or other bodily needs. Wearing the device while its active just gives a sort of double-image until the user relaxes.

In full VR mode, the user can experience anything they could in real life and more, so long as the stimuli is in the program.

In addition to normal experiences (like one could get from a holoeeck), their perceptions can be changed so that they can experience normally impossible things.

Inhabiting nonhuman bodies (extream discomfort from this breaks immersion as always).

The blind can see, colorblind can see in all the visual spectrum and more, the paralysed can walk, and so on.

People in comas (or otherwise asleep) can also interface with it to whatever degree their minds remain active.

In addition to games, there are several programs for writing documants or making 3D objects and so forth and saving the files like any other document.

Some medical programs can perform scans to determine a persons health and stimulate the nerves in such a way to treat medical conditions (the software you get initially is some kind of "Brain Games" style commercial self-help stuff that is very safe but not likely to solve any major problems out of the box without professional input).

You also get a magazine that looks like some alternate universe version of Popular Science mentioning stuff about brain hackers, experiments in brain uploading (seems the most "sucessful" results always result in severe brain damage and an incomplete image), and examples of neuro-therapy to solve all sorts of mental illnesses along with downloading skills into people.

All that stuff is (probably) more than what your device can do.

As it stands, the stuff you have works on your computer and you already have access to some simple shooter and adventure games... and one rather decent but simplistic porno.

Q is willing to help you introduce this tech to the world if you choose to do so.

What do you do?

[Enigma]

Enjoy it as much as I can and try not to be addicted to it.

[The Romulan Republic]

The bit about brain hackers is fucking creepy. If the technology would make that possible (and therefore possibly cause the death of independent thought), its not worth the benefits. I'd destroy it. I also have serious doubts about the brain uploading.

The potential for abuse is horrific.

[Enigma]

Yeah but something like that won't be an issue for years to come and even then you can simply take your computer offline and still enjoy your VR unit.

[Darth Lucifer]

The video game and entertainment market is scared shitless of the device. The smart companies see the potential for enhancing the experience, making new games, scenarios, etc. Someone will try to create a way to make them able to interface with one another too. If that happens, the MMORPG industry has a whole new playground. New Cap City, anyone?

The bit about brain hackers is fucking creepy. If the technology would make that possible (and therefore possibly cause the death of independent thought), its not worth the benefits.

Yeah, I'd hate to fall victim to some accident or some kid looking to be the next Avenging Angel.

[AniThyng]

Disturbing new questions are raised about the morality of grand theft auto VR. Murder simulators, it's not just cartoon pixels anymore!

[hongi]

I'd refuse it, because I know that I'd abuse the heck out of it. It'll be like the time I got addicted to World of Warcraft all over again, except this time I'll never leave. I'm a coward, I'd much rather flee into a fantasy world of my own creation than face the real world. A world I can control? I'd never go back to my family, friends, a real life that is uncontrollable.

[Darksider]

Disturbing new questions are raised about the morality of grand theft auto VR. Murder simulators, it's not just cartoon pixels anymore!

Oh god. Can you imagine how apeshit the moral guardians would go? I wouldn't be surprised if there is some form of legal restriction on the technology.

[Admiral Valdemar]

I'm pretty sure Wally Pfister's (the guy who does the cinematography for Nolan films) first film is going to be about uploading your neural engrams into a supercomputer. Wonder if it will actually delve into these dilemmas at all.

[Venator]

I would dive into research, and see if it was possible to nerf the technology; essentially, see if I could develop a version which could confer the benefits for design/research/engineering and at hopefully for medical science/mental health, but had hard limits on it's ability to be used for brain hacking and other such abuse that above posters have been so afraid of. If I could extract even small gains for medicine without the looming potential for abuses, and distribute it to the world, I'd feel pretty good about it.

If the potential for uploading and brain hacking etc. is a core property of the technology, I'd probably just terrorize FPS servers for a bit and enjoy the novelty of feeling like I'm really piloting my Battlemechs from the cockpit, then take a sledgehammer to it. Not worth the risk*.

*Edit: My opinion might have been different and more charitable before today, oddly, but I just started watching Caprica... so this thread raised some issues already fresh in my mind.