Blog post 9

 The virtual reality in “Clouds over Sidra” is definitely a powerful tool that could be used in imaginative and progressive ways. It was fascinating to be in the classroom and on the playground with the kids at the Zaatari. The immersive atmosphere invokes the same feeling of empathy that Chris Milk talked about in his Tedtalk. I find this approach the potential of virtual reality to be fascinating. Up until watching this video and learning about the work that Chris Milk is doing, I had always thought of virtual reality as something that would only concern gamers and artists. I never thought it could be used for an humanitarian project, one that could bring back empathy in times of great need. Often in war, the people at the top lose sight of the fact that their lives are affecting millions of people everyday. The people at the top can easily become desensitized to the consequences of their actions when they are in the comfort of their own home or office. I think often in war this desensitization leads to much of the senseless collateral damage and tragedy that innocent people must face everyday. But never before has there been a way for people to connect in such an impactful way. I would have loved to see the reaction of the people that were shown the Clouds over Sidra video at the World Economic Forum. I think more videos like this should be shared to politicians and people in positions of power all over the world. The possibilities of this style of VR is exciting to think about, knowing that so many of the issues that we face today like xenophobia, racism, and sexism, etc. are partially due to a lack of empathy. But if more films and projects can be put together that allows people to literally put themselves in someone else’s shoes, the more hope there is for a more understanding future. I never thought I would say that the concept of VR revived my hope in humanity. From watching way too many Black Mirror-esque sci-fi shows and movies, the future of VR has been a daunting one to me. Though, learning about these VR projects like Clouds over Sidra and Bashir’s Dream, I know now that VR can be a very touching and meaningful experience that can bring people from completely different backgrounds and remind us that we are all human.