twitter's Journal: "Out of Body" Research Show's Way to Virtual Reality.

The BBC is reporting some very intersting virtual reality research:

researchers asked volunteers to stand in front of a camera while wearing video-display goggles. Through these goggles, the volunteer could see a camera view of their own back - a three-dimensional "virtual own body" that appeared to be standing in front of them.

The volunteers reported that the sensation seemed to be caused by the pen on their virtual back, rather than their real back, making them feel as if the virtual body was their own rather than a hologram.

Even when the camera was switched to film the back of a mannequin being stroked rather than their own back, the volunteers still reported feeling as if the virtual mannequin body was their own.