2001 Volume 20 Pages 57-62
When we discuss our global ecology and global warming, in addition to incremental thinking, idealization of our future can provide with us insights into what we can do about them. Transportation needs have both functional and hedonic aspects. Transportation literature review finds that the needs for transportation include not only functional physical transportation needs of people, goods and information, but also our hedonic desire to explore new territory and to enjoy traveling itself. The author argues that even apparently functional trips such as daily commuting and business trips have hedonic aspects in them. Also, tourism needs include functional transportation aspects, in addition to hedonic aspects. The author proposes Virtual Transportation, which is highly developed virtual reality in transportation, for partially replacing the transportation needs as well as tourism needs. If Virtual Transportation becomes a highly developed business, it could replace actual trips to a certain degree, with Virtual Transportation's less accident and crime risks, convenience, flexibility and other advantages. If we could substitute actual trips with Virtual Transportation, we could reduce global warming caused by transportation to a certain degree. Also, Virtual Transportation can become an alternative goal to automobile ownership and use, which are significant aspects of contemporary consumer life in both developed and developing nations. Further research is needed in measuring the hedonic and functional aspects of transportation needs and tourism needs.
