Someday, every home may have its own Holodeck. If that happens, how will virtual reality change people's lives"

Most experts think that virtual reality, at least beyond the level shown in today's video and computer games, will not become widespread any time soon. Fully immersive VR technology is still expensive and undependable. Most businesses have not wanted to invest in it. Cyber Edge Information Services, a research and marketing firm that covers the industry, stated that virtual reality or visual simulations earned $36.2 billion in 2002, up from $22 billion in 2001. That figure seems large, but it is only a tiny fraction of the amount that the whole computer industry makes.

A Virtual Future

On the other hand, computers are likely to continue growing in speed and in power very quickly, and virtual reality technology...