"Hi, I am Mark. I am one of the researchers." Straight to the point. Arthur approves.
"The nerve gear intercepts electrical signals at the medullary pyramids of the brainstem, so you are not able to send motor signals down and sensory signals are not transmitted up. The medullary oblongata is not touched so the autonomic system stays intact.. and
.. " Arthur felt his brain swelling as Mark rambled on and on... He decided to focus on the mash potato in front of him. The hospice cafeteria was really not too bad despite being government funded.
After a little longer than it would have taken a normal person, Mark paused and noticed the conversation was one sided. "Sorry, basically it means that the brain and physical body gets disconnected at the neck, but the signals go into a computer that generates a world where a virtual body moves freely and the senses are intact. Sensory signals still go straight to the brain from the optic, olfactory and auditory nerves so you can see, smell and hear things as if you were in a real world."
"That is amazing. " It was, and the guy deserved some positive feedback for his enthusiasm.
"Yes yes, it's quite a big change to palliative medicine. Bone pain is really bad from what I hear."
Arthur half hid a cringe, and nearly spat out 'you think?' Despite his fentanyl patch, his back was hurting as if someone were using a spoon and digging the bone marrow. He forced a smile and nodded. Probably better not to be the cynical old man for now.
"Would you like to give a try? We have a new pilot trial starting. The ongoing one is a virtual world where you walk in a garden. The new trial would be in the massive online game called Apocalypse."
This was a little surprising. "Oh? Is there a difference in the two?"
"Yes, yes. Before we couldn't get approval to use it in a game setting. You see, if a dying patient died in a game, it wouldn't look good for the game's publicity. Plus, the nerve gear monitors your vitals and kicks you out if your body is in severe pain or your heart or breathing is compromised. We have only just gotten approval to remove the limiter for terminal cancer pain. "
'Well, what have I got to lose. Fancy a recruitment campaign in my final days.'
"Hook me up! Where do I sign up? "