Inclusive Symbolic Environments

Computer technology has only recently become advanced enough to solve the problems it creates with its own interface. One solution, virtual reality (VR), immediately raises fundamental issues in both semantics and epistemology. Inclusive symbolic environments effectively redefine the relationship between experience and representation, rendering the syntax-semantics barrier transparent. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are hidden from the computer interface, replaced by direct, non-symbolic environmental experience. Inclusion, the defining characteristic of virtual environments, is achieved through the integration of four component technologies: behavior transducers, inclusive computation, intentional psychology, and experiential design. The structure and function of VR systems reflect the mathematical necessity of pervasion of worlds, physical pervading digital pervading virtual. Pervasion permits novel semantic mappings which challenge the dominance of physical reality. Physical semantics is defined by the map between behavior and digital representation. Virtual semantics is defined by the map between digital representation and perceived behavior in the virtual environment. Natural semantics is achieved by eliminating our interaction with the intermediate digital syntax. Keyword codes: H.1.2; I.6.1; K.m