From: Larry Auld <LSAULD@ECUVM.CIS.ECU.EDU>
Subject: CULTURE: VR and mass media
Date:         Sun, 23 May 93 21:01:15 EDT



Ray Bradbury in his _Farenheit 451_ anticipated a form of interactive
mass media: during the soap opera, viewers were asked for their
opinions/ reactions on certain points.  If one replied, the
verisimilitude remained intact.  However, if one failed to reply,
nothing happened other than being thanked for one's reply!  It wasn't
truly interactive, but, so long as people didn't know that, it worked.
Another example of mind control.

--Larry Auld, PhD
  Co-Director
  Virtual Reality and Education Laboratory
  School of Education
  East Carolina University
  Greenville, NC 27858-4353