REPOSITIONING FROM A REAL WORLD INTO A VIRTUAL WORLD

We are progressively repositioning from a real world into a virtual world. Or perhaps more accurately, we occupy more of our real world time with virtual realities. 

Our use of the term 'virtual' is no longer a simple concept. The weather report is that rain is a virtual certainty today. That is, rain is in effect but not in fact. It's close but not quite. Virtual, pronounce it ˈver-chew-el', means almost as described but not completely; very close to being something without actually being it. The term 'virtual' is used virtually all of the time, which is to say, it's used nearly but not quite, or frequently but not always, although it seems so.  The term virtual is complex now, and science and technology as pushed its boundaries. The adjective can also intimate artificial, imitation, even make-believe.

Virtual reality or realities (VR) may be computer or multimedia simulated replications of an imagined world or a real world which allow users to interact with sensory experiences such as sight, touch, hearing and smell.

Uses range from pilot and combat training to VR games. From early recreational Viewmaster visual simulators to urban regeneration planning and design capabilities. You see VssoryR in popular Home redesign shows as clients can visual their renovated houses. VR now has enormous potential.

We have virtual shopping environments, virtual libraries (clouds), virtual travel, and virtual teams, virtual relationships, virtual friendships, virtual partnerships. Within the plethora of upsides there are concerns when the virtual becomes our reality. Immersive technology may lead more people into isolation, that is, social networking that meets social needs, making personal interaction redundant.

Virtual food won't feed us and virtual water won't sustain our lives, and neither will virtual friends satisfy or nurture our innate emotional requirement for human physical interface.  So here is some actual, not virtual food for a thoughtful question. The idea of life lived online, outside of regular society, is it bad or good, healthy or unhealthy?