Virtual Soccer Experiment Bonds Strangers

Thanks to BBC News for its article discussing a virtual reality game using a soccer ball and an 'exertion interface', as devised by MIT's Media Lab Europe in Dublin. The article explains: "Breakout for Two uses video conferencing over broadband to create a virtual 'glass wall' players have to break down with a ball." According to researcher Dr Stefan Agamanolis: "It was designed... to show how remote strangers can bond and feel more at ease with each other more rapidly when they have to exert themselves physically, rather than when relying on 'traditional' electronic communication, like instant messaging or e-mail", and he further explained: "When you get into that state of arousal, you are more likely to be able to bond socially with other people around you."

Explains

[Apreche]

Soo. If you physically exert yourself you will be friendly with people nearby. This must be why geeks who don't get out of their chair are so anti-social. It makes sense, and I've seen and experienced this myself. I'll believe it.

Re:I've got an idea

[Saige]

So, when you're working with a team on, say, the other side of the continent, just going down to the racketball court together could be a tad tough. Sure, the company can fly one team out to the other's site to all play racquetball, but that could be a bit expensive to do so.

I felt the article was describing how such techonology could be used to help people who are not in close physical proximity still find ways to bond together as a team - not as a stand in for people actually going and doing such activities together.

Though well done games might be more interesting then a simple game of racquetball, that's not really an issue at this point it time, it appears.