增强现实与虚拟现实有两种方式来体验矩阵：通过增强现实或是虚拟现实。两种方法各有利弊，但都允许你使用相同的权限来访问矩阵。除了少数例外(在本章中会提到)，你在VR中可以做的任何事情都可以在AR中完成，反之亦然。
增强现实大多数矩阵用户大部分时间都在使用AR。有了增强现实技术，矩阵不再只是一个你前往的场所，而是一个由数据和图像组成的平行世界，你可以通过科技设备体验到覆盖在你正常感知之上的感受。你的通讯链获取矩阵数据，并通过任意数量的界面设备向你提供结果。AR感官输入对每个用户都是特定的和个性化的; 虽然你和你的好友都可以访问“显示”在餐厅外面的菜单图标，但它可能是显示给她的，也可能是大声读给你听的，而你们都不会看到或听到对方的AR输出。
在其最基本的形式中，AR以可视化提示的形式被体验，也被称为增强现实对象图标，或AROs(发音为“arrows”)。你可以用图像链(p.333)看到AROs，这是赛博眼的标准配置，它也可以安装在智能护目镜、眼镜甚至隐形眼镜上，这些都与你的通讯链相连。默认情况下，ARO数据在你的视野中显示为幽灵般的图像和文本，因此它不会完全遮挡你的视野。你可以自定义你的界面，以任何你喜欢的方式查看这些数据，或者过滤掉某些内容(如视觉垃圾AROs)。例如，如果你接起一个视频来电，来电者的图像或图标就会出现在你的视野中，但它是透明的，因此你可以透过它看到真实世界。如果有人向你开枪，你可以让打电话的人暂停，然后关闭AR窗口，将其转移到你的视野边缘，这样就不会受到干扰。
你也可以使用听觉体验AR，通过一个音频链(p.333)传输和聆听，音频链可以是赛博耳、耳塞式耳机、皮下骨传导扬声器，甚至可以是向你的耳朵发送紧束音频的护目镜或眼镜。你可以控制音量，而且不必担心被人偷听，因为一切都发生在你的头脑里。先进的AR系统可以通过传输触觉信息(被称为“可触性信息”)，使用拟感或者定制的手套和衣物反馈来传达温度、压力和阻力。如果你想要完整的AR体验，你可以把AR输入转换成嗅觉和味觉的感觉数据，通常是使用拟感来感知，尽管也有专门的赛博殖装改造提供给小规模(并且古怪的)市场。
获得AR修正的最简单方法是使用拟感。你需要一个直接神经界面--通过安装植入的通讯链、植入的拟感模块、数据插口或电极贴片--以及一个用于你的通讯链的拟感模块来解释信号并向你提供数据。拟感技术使AR更进一步，因为它也可以转达情感，尽管转达完整的模拟情感的服务是罕见的，并且有时是非法或耸人听闻的：垃圾广告邮件已经够糟糕了，但你真的想感受它吗？
对AR界面的控制和操纵可以通过各种手段来完成。输入设备包括对着麦克风的声音命令、AR手套、眼镜中的微型激光眼球追踪器，甚至是通过直接神经界面的精神命令。当所有其他方法都失败时，也可以使用通讯链本身的基础控制。
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AUGMENTED REALITY
The majority of Matrix users operate in AR most of the time. With augmented reality, the Matrix is not a place you go so much as a parallel world of data and imagery that you experience as an overlay onto your normal range of senses via technological devices. Your commlink accesses Matrix data and feeds you the results by any number of interface devices. AR sensory input is specific and personalized to each user; while you and your buddy can both access the menu icon "displayed" outside a restaurant, it might be displayed to her and read out loud to you, and neither of you would see or hear the other’s AR output.
In its most basic form, AR is experienced as visual sight cues, icons known as augmented reality objects, or AROs (pronounced "arrows"). You can see AROs with an image link (p.333), which comes standard in cybereyes and can be installed in smart goggles, glasses, or even contact lenses, which is linked to your commlink. By default, ARO data appear as ghostly images and text in your field of view, so it does not fully obstruct your vision. You can customize your interface to view this data any way you like, or to filter out certain content (like visual spam AROs). If you accept an incoming video call, for example, the caller’s image or icon appears in your field of vision, but transparent so the real world can be seen through it. If someone starts shooting at you, you can put the caller on hold and close the AR window or shift it to your peripheral vision so it doesn’t interfere.
You can also experience AR through audible cues, transferred and heard via an audio link (p.333) which can be in cyberears, earbud headphones, subdermal bone-vibrating speakers, or even goggles or glasses that send tight-beam audio to your ears. You can control the volume and you don’t have to worry about snoopers overhearing since it’s all in your head. Advanced AR systems can convey tactile information (called haptics) relayed through simsense or by feedback gloves and clothing customized to convey temperature, pressure, and resistance. If you want the full AR experience, you can translate AR input into smell and taste sensory data, usually through simsense although there are specialized cyberware mods for a small(and strange) market.
The easiest way to get your AR fix is through simsense. You need a direct neural interface—either via installed implanted commlink, implanted sim module, a datajack, or a trode net—along with a sim module for your commlink to interpret the signals and feed you the data. Simsense feeds take AR a step further because they can also relay emotions, though services that relay full emotive sim are rare and sometimes illegal or downright disturbing: advertising spam is bad enough, but do you really want to feel it?
Control and manipulation of the AR interface can be accomplished with a variety of means. Input devices include vocal commands into a microphone, AR gloves, micro-laser eye trackers in glasses, or even mental commands through direct neural interface. When all else fails, the rudimentary controls on the commlink itself can be used.
对于那些想要完整的矩阵体验的人来说，你们可以比AR更进一步，让你的感官完全沉浸在矩阵的虚拟现实中。在VR中，你的物理感知被矩阵的感官信息所覆写。你不是在体验你肉体周围的真实世界，而是体验成为你化身图标的电子模拟矩阵。
要访问完整的VR，需要一个拟感模块和一个直接神经界面。植入式拟感模块也可以作为模录器或植入式通讯链的附加组件购买。作为一项安全防范措施，当你在VR中时，拟感会覆盖你的运动功能，这样你就不会在不知不觉中在现实世界中移动，并可能伤害到你自己或你周围的环境。这意味着，当你在线上时，你的身体是瘫痪的，就像你在睡觉一样。在非常困难的情况下，你仍然可以通过你的肉体感官进行感知，或者在VR中移动你的肉体。
VR之所以这么受欢迎，有如下几个原因。VR环境对于激烈而真实的游戏体验来说是非常棒的，而可定制的拟感娱乐节目比标准的全息影像更受欢迎。由于你的图标可以有任意塑模，VR比AR更匿名，是进行阴暗交易或简单社交的绝佳媒介，而不必克服由长相、泛人种族、社会阶层等造成的障碍。有时，只是在矩阵的一些特别塑模的VR景观中散步也是一种有趣的打发时间的方式，就像生活在一个视频游戏中。它对一些专业功能也非常有用，包括虚拟建模、高速交易、机器人控制、安保、远程合作企业等。
对超链者来说，VR就是“家"--即使是在有AR的条件下，大多数人在这里依然感觉比在肉体世界中穿行更加舒服。然而对于黑客来说，更重要的是VR是高速的，你甚至可以以数字信号的速度移动，而这可能是你在进行黑客工作时所需要的额外优势。你可以比街头武士更快，而成本却很低。VR的体验与AR有很大的不同。当一个人在走在街上时与AR链接，往往比一个人独自用头脑在VR景观中冲浪操作得更慢。虽然VR的速度更快，但它通常会保有一定的保障措施，从而保护用户的大脑免受危险的浪涌或来自矩阵的篡改。这种被街头称为"冷模"的界面反过来又比非法修改的"热模”界面慢，后者取消了大部分的保护措施，允许用户为获得一点额外的速度而冒险使用他们的神经通路。
在VR中，你成为你的化身图标。化身固件让你感觉你的感官和意识都体现在图标中；在一个非常真实的意义上，它成为你在矩阵中的身体。化身图标是可定制的，有大量的可能性；你可以成为一切。想成为一个有八只手臂的紫色食人魔吗？没问题。一个有喷射推进器的赛博飞蛾怎么样？这是上周的最畅销产品。也许你想看起来和听起来都像新兴地精摇滚明星Orxanne？简单，但如果你想要她的全部声乐范围和伴奏，你就必须花钱购买额外的功能。
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VIRTUAL REALITY
For those who want the full Matrix experience, you can go a step beyond AR and fully immerse your senses in the virtual reality of the Matrix. In VR, your physical perceptions are overridden by the Matrix’s sensory information. Rather than experiencing the real world around your meat body, you experience the electronic simulation of the Matrix as your persona’s icon.
A simsense module and a direct neural interface are required to access full VR. Implanted sim-modules can also be bought as add-ons for simrigs and implanted commlinks. As a safety precaution, simsense overrides your motor functions while you are in VR so that you don’t unknowingly move in the real world and potentially harm yourself or your surroundings. This means that your physical body is limp while you’re online, as if you were sleeping. With great difficulty, you can still perceive through your meat senses or move your physical body while in VR.
Virtual reality is popular for several reasons. VR environments are fantastic for intense and realistic gaming experiences, and customizable simsense entertainment feeds are more popular than standard trideo. Since your icon can have any sculpting, VR is more anonymous than AR and is an excellent medium for conducting shady deals or simply socializing without having to overcome barriers raised by looks, metatype, social class, etc. Sometimes just moving through some of the Matrix’s specially sculpted VR landscapes is an interesting way to pass the time—like living in a video game. It is also extremely useful for a number of professional functions including virtual modeling, high-speed transactions, robotics control, security, remote cooperative ventures, etc.
To technomancers, VR is "home"—most feel more comfortable here than navigating the meat world, even with augmented reality. Most importantly for hackers, however, VR is fast—you move at digital speeds, which can be the extra edge you need while pulling a hack job. You can be faster than a street samurai at a fraction of the cost. The virtual reality experience is drastically different from AR. Someone interfacing with augmented reality while he walks down the street often operates more slowly than someone surfing through VR landscapes with his mind alone. Although VR is faster, it normally keeps certain safeguards that protect a user’s brain from dangerous surges or tampering from the Matrix. This simsense interface, dubbed “cold sim“ on the streets, is in turn slower than the illegally modified ”hot sim” interface, which removes most of the protections, allowing users to risk their neural pathways in return for a little extra speed.
In VR, you become your persona icon. The persona firmware makes you feel like your senses and consciousness are embodied in the icon; in a very real sense it becomes your body in the Matrix. Persona icons are customizable and an immense range of possibilities are available; you can be literally everything. Want to be a purple ogre with eight arms? No problem. How about a cybernetic aphid with jet thrusters? That was last week’s top seller. Maybe you want to look and sound like novahot Goblin Rockstar Orxanne? Easy, but if you want her full vocal range and accompanying soundtrack you’ll have to splurge for the extra features.
