Oculus Rift Progress

^^Agreed!!

I can see where this will probably happen in stages. The helmet could probably in some iteration entirely fill ones peripheral vision, in addition to the ability to plant speakers right in close to the ears. In the foreseeable future, this approach would make it feasible with great immersion, though not perfect. Additionally, it seems that there's been some research into studying brain waves to literally see what a person is thinking of. If that angle is pursued it could have great potential for physically non-invasive mind reading for user input. This would be a bit further down the road if they perfect it. Further into the future, it seems likely that brain implants will likely become common anyways. They've already started working on the technology for those who are paralyzed, with some mild success in providing people the ability to control computer input with thought alone. It's very primitive right now, but one day may reach the point of being effective. If such implants become common place, gaming would merely be a single facet of them. For example, they could have self contained storage to perfectly retain all of your memories. You could literally download knowledge. Imagine where human intelligence would go at that point. Though we may also see some incredible new mental illnesses come about with that as well. Brain implants and nervous system splicing would likely have to be done on children though, in order for the adaptation and recovery to be as smooth as possible. Even if the technology comes about, the moral implications likely wouldn't allow such a thing for a very long time. But sensors and a helmet with speakers and a screen would do until then :)

I agree with you on that for now though putting any form of neural implants or for the brain into somebody that is used for virtual reality will result in some pretty bad things. Also on the note of adding mental implants there are some pretty big risk involved. As you said mental illness being one if not a severe thing as a result of that. I have been watching that research unfold actually though in regards to brain waves and such they have devices already not implants mind you but exoskeletons that basically have a sensor like system that can help paralyzed people walk one of those is called HAL its a pretty innovative gadget so to speak. We are definitely not too far from this kind of research by any means but we need to tread carefully though despite what anti transhumanist say they do bring up some valid points to certain factors especially the more health related ones. But yeah right now I am ok with what we have I will post something later on this topic of my view of the situation when I am free again with much more thought.

Technology really is an amazing and scary pillar with which society depends on and infinite possibilities to improve....that said total immersion does sound cool