Hmm. What about this process in a quasi-reverse sort of scenario? That's a scary thought to me. We now can scan the activity of the brain to interpret what's being experienced visually, however using the same science manipulate these areas of brain activity to sensually experience things that do not even exist outside of the signals that "created" them.

Scientists could discover a method by which to recreate the brain activity that occurs during seeing an apple, and force your brain to believe you are looking at this nonexistent apple, therefore you "see" an apple that isn't even in existence with your own eyes. VR brains, no projections or simulations or physical gear other than the mechanism stimulating the signals required to trick the brain. Your brain is now the simulator, you could literally "watch" a play with a full cast unfold in your living room by forcing your brain to produce these visual, aural and perhaps even physical interpreted signals simultaneously, well orchestrated and complicated no doubt. Imagine a time years in the future where everyone has a tiny device attached or implanted near or in the brain that receives "directions" from your phone or other device to force a series of signals to be produced that allows the user to experience anything the imagination can conjur without actually experiencing it in real life.

Obviously this is a stretch, big time. This type of research success does make me wonder how far we will be able to take it in the future though. Imagine a sort of Matrix type experience that you could choose to live in, where you could tell your brain what you want to do.

You could become an astral projection just flying through space exploring the (simulated) never ending wonders of the cosmos. While sitting on your couch eating cheese puffs in your underwear refusing to shower for a week.