computing power

[claymore]

In the future will computers have become so powerful that they will be able to create virtual time travel. that is will they be able to immerse you in a holographic scenario of any time in history and do it so well that you would think that you were actually there?.....like the holodeck on starship enterprise.,if your a treckie.

[tubeway]

Yes

[spaced]

and I think that they will become so intelligent that they could wage war on us....watch the matrix and Terminator 3

[Loosehead]

Yes I think computing power will be able to generate "Holodeck" type experiences, coupled with suitable hardware it should be possible to go towards the state of affairs to which you refer.

Any form of intelligence in computers is a long way off and may bever be a reality but more and more powerful processors and peripherals will allow more and more uses of the nature to which you refer.

[Clanad]

If you think about it for a minute, one soon comes to the understanding that any computer, now or in the future can only fulfill the intent of it's operating system. The programming, whether only. from a human or whether from another computer can only derive its output from what it "knows". Rather like the super computer named HAL depicted int he movie 2001, a Space Odyssey. It had the personality and goal fulfillment of its creator Dr. Chandra.
The probelm is, in the context of this question, what exactly is history. Name any historical happenstance, near or far (timewise) and there will be numerous interpretations of the event, no? Some will disregard data supporting a viewpoint, others will interpret the data (if available) based on their own bias' and yet others will disregard data completely. So, the "Holodeck" envisioned by Captain Loosehead in my respectful opinion, will contain but possibilities programmed by those same fallible humans...

[ll_billym]

The "virtual reality" experience is becoming more and more realistic and by that measure there will become a time where the software and hardware is so advanced that it will be indisguingishable from reality in terms of what you see/feel/hear.

What clanad says is true though that the experience is based purely on what the system has been programmed so it is impossible to create a truly authentic histroical experience as, for instance, nobody knows for certain who Jack the Ripper was or how many ants were on the grassy knoll when JFK was shot.

Also there is the issue that you will know that you have put the headset, suit or whatever on so any sane person would remember this and know that the experience wasn't real.

Unless the system could tap into your mind and make you forget you are in VR...........