Simulated prejudice ...

Interesting conversation today, hearing good news about the slow (but steady) progress of a project they are working on.

As is per the norm of our fortnightly chat, we wandered quickly into the realms of simulation. This time discussing some agreed personal perceptions of prejudice.

Acceptance of an experience gained by simulation raises many interesting cultural questions, we could build a magnificent artefact, more complex than any 'real' teaching environment could offer. Yet, cultural dismissal of anyone having learnt via this medium raises interesting questions.

In many 'practice based' domains, you are your skills, a chef is really not much use unless they have made the mistakes in the kitchen. You cannot simulate this, not yet, not likely and in reality there is little inclination to even bother.

For a complex network environment, if you are able to overcome the cost and infrastructure security issues. Then it is very reasonable to have an array of networking kit sitting in a room waiting for students/trainees/employees to 'hack away'. But when cost and security are critical, who is going to let you practice your newly acquired knowledge on a live network ... not I, nor anyone (sane) I know.

Yet, prejudice is prevalent, the simulated technology, whilst still limited is now considerably more complex than many networking devices on the market and can offer someone 'trying' that skill or idea the opportunity to experiment and apply a level of critical thought into their practice.


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