New Eyes: Tyler White

[Beautiful Future - XV]

How do we build collective empathy in an isolating society?

How do we empower individual action in a society where most people feel justifiably powerless while equally emotionally and physically fatigued?

I am hopeful that some new technologies, if developed ethically, will help build a far more beautiful and empathetic future. New technologies like Virtual Reality may hold an answer to how we bridge the gap of our current isolation and build the necessary empathetic relationships with the people we don't yet know, but need to understand.

These technologies already feature immersive experiences that are changing the way people act and see the world, instilling a powerful new sense of collective empathy. They have the power to ensure our future is beautiful and instilled with deeper social understanding.

Examples of the healing power of virtual reality are growing.

Check out Stanford's Virtual Interaction Lab’s “Becoming Homeless”.

Or Nonny de la Pena’s, heart wrenching experiences developed at Emblematic Studios.

Or Alex McDowell's project involving the people of a Saudi Arabian Bedouin tribe.

Seeing is truly believing with this technology, so I am certain if you give it a try it will convince you too that we as a society still have a chance to see with new eyes, come back together, and build a beautiful empathetic future.

[Tyler is an artist, activist, and explorer. He’s one of my favorite people with whom to get coffee and dream. This post was part of his response to my question: How do you see the future being beautiful?]